Career: Played in 49 career games with 28 all-time starts ... 2008 ARA Sportsmanship Award recipient ... Finished his career ranked seventh on NU's career list with 160 receptions and fourth with 2,011 receiving yards ... Ranked seventh on NU's career receiving TD list with 12 ... Ended his career with a string of 29 straight games with at least one catch ... One of NU's starting inside receivers ... Reliable, steady receiver who made plays ... Great football IQ ... Extremely competitive player and outstanding athlete ... Stellar special teams player ... After playing as a true freshman, and making significant contributions at wide receiver, coaching staff experimented with him as a cornerback during the spring of 2006 ... Coaching staff moved him back to offense after the spring because of his skills and desire to play receiver ... Tremendous team leader and extremely active participant in community service projects.
2008: Named to preseason All-Big Ten teams by Lindy's (second team) and Phil Steele's (fourth team) ... True senior ... Team co-captain ... Honorable mention All-Big Ten pick ... Named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team on Oct. 1 (one of 11 FBS players to earn the honor) and was honored nationally at the 2009 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans ... National recipient of the ARA Sportsmanship Award ... NU's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner ... National Football Foundation Draddy Trophy (academic Heisman) semifinalist ... One of 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award ... Team's second-leading wideout with 59 catches ... Tallied go-ahead and eventual game-winning scores at Iowa and Michigan ... Sixth in Big Ten with 4.5 catches per game his senior season ... Team leader in receiving yards (737) and receiving TD's (6) ... Capped his outstanding career in 2008 Alamo Bowl vs. Missouri, catching seven passes for 83 yards, including a 35-yard first-quarter catch-and-run ... On Senior Day vs. Illinois, led 'Cats with season-high eight catches for 111 yards and one TD, earning team's offensive player of the game honors ... At Michigan, led NU with 79 receiving yards on five catches, including a 53-yard catch-and-run third-quarter TD that stood up as the difference in a 21-14 win ... Also recovered a fumble when the Wolverines muffed a punt in the first quarter en route to NU's special teams player of the game award ... Team-best six catches for 78 yards vs. Ohio State ... At Minnesota, two catches for 44 yards ... Caught four passes for 18 yards at Indiana ... Against Purdue, demonstrated his dual-threat ability, scoring on a 45-yard catch-and-run before throwing the first TD pass of his career, a 30-yard completion to Sidney Stewart off a reverse ... Became the first NU player in 26 years to accomplish that feat (Sandy Schwab actually threw a TD pass, caught one and ran for one in a 28-24 win over Michigan State on Nov. 6, 1982) ... Finished with 55 yards receiving on four catches ... Named team's offensive player of the game vs. Purdue ... Scored a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner with 7:54 remaining at Iowa (a 3-yard grab) ... Totaled five catches for 47 yards at Iowa ... His other TD was a 15-yard grab ... Against Ohio, led team with seven receptions for 61 yards and returned two punts for two yards ... Versus SIU, caught four passses for 53 yards and matched a career high with three punt returns for 22 yards ... At Duke, caught two passes for 73 yards and completed a 25-yard pass to quarterback C.J. Bachér after taking the handoff from Bachér ... Returned two punts for 20 yards ... Notched one catch for eight yards vs. Syracuse ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Named to NFF's Hampshire Honor Society.
2007: Team's co-MVP ... ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-District V selection ... Academic All-Big Ten ... Recipient of a Randy Walker Wildcat Warrior Award ... Garnered second-team All-Big Ten honors from Rivals.com ... Starting wide receiver and an important special teams player ... Led team in receptions (66) and receiving yards (744) ... His 66 catches were the seventh-most in an NU single season ... Ranked seventh in Big Ten receptions per game and 11th in receiving yardage per game ... Had four of his top career performances in the season's last nine weeks: six catches for 61 yards at Ohio State; nine receptions for a career-high 141 yards and TD at Michigan State; career-high 12 receptions for 114 yards and a TD (the game-tying TD with eight seconds remaining in regulation) vs. Minnesota; and 10 catches for 120 yards at Illinois ... His TD at MSU was a 70-yard reception ... Totaled four catches for 44 yards against Northeastern ... Also had one special teams tackle against the Huskies ... Two receptions for 45 yards (one a 38-yarder) against Nevada ... Notched four catches for 44 yards against Duke ... Three receptions for 27 yards vs. Michigan ... Five catches for 70 yards, as well as 25 rushing yards (on 2 carries) vs. Eastern Michigan ... Six receptions for 52 yards vs. Iowa ... Named team's offensive big playmaker against the Hawkeyes ... Against Minnesota, surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for career receiving yardage, becoming the 27th player in NU history to accomplish the feat ... Scored his season's third TD on a hook-and-ladder play against Purdue ... Credited with 15 receiving yards and the TD on the play ... Three catches for 16 yards against Indiana.
2006: Academic All-Big Ten ... ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first-team selection ... After a brief trial in the secondary during the spring, was moved back to wide receiver ... One of team's best special teams players ... Caught a 20-yard pass in season opener at Miami (Ohio) -- the Wildcats' longest pass play in that contest ... Snared a 13-yard pass against New Hampshire ... Three receptions for 23 yards vs. Eastern Michigan ... Had a 17-yard catch at Nevada ... 22-yard reception at Penn State ... Led team with three receptions for 26 yards at Wisconsin ... Caught two of the season's three longest pass plays -- 52 and 47 yards -- against Michigan State ... Had a season-best four receptions for 50 yards at Michigan ... Three receptions, including a 7-yard TD catch, at Iowa ... 32 receiving yards vs. the Hawks ... Limited to one reception (5 yards) vs. Ohio State ... Caught three passes for 42 yards vs. Illinois, and also had a key onside kick recovery that led to an early second-half touchdown ... Averaged a team-best 15.2 yards per reception (among everyday wideouts).
2005: Played numerous snaps at wide receiver and on special teams ... Switched from quarterback to wide receiver during preseason camp ... Scored his first career TD on a 67-yard pass play at Purdue -- NU's first touchdown of the game ... Came back the next week at Michigan State and scored another TD, this one on a 14-yard swing pass ... Caught two passes for 18 yards in collegiate debut vs. Ohio (Sept. 3) ... Contributed a pair of receptions for 16 yards against Northern Illinois (Sept. 10) ... Totaled two receptions for 11 yards at Arizona State ... Did not catch a pass vs. Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan or Iowa ... Two receptions for 28 yards, including a 25-yarder, at Ohio State ... Named NU's Special Teams Player of the Week (vs. Ohio State) ... Two catches for 27 yards vs. UCLA in the Sun Bowl ... Also added 10 special teams tackles, including eight solo hits.
High School: SuperPrep All-Midwest Region and Rivals.com Top 25 dual-threat quarterback ... Ranked 48th nationally among all quarterbacks by SuperPrep ... Ranked No. 24 in overall Illinois player rankings by SuperPrep ... Rated 18th in Illinois by Rivals.com and 22nd nationally in dual-threat QB ranking ... All-area selection by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report ... Chicago Tribune second-team all-state selection ... Named state's Co-Offensive Player of the Year by Illinois Prep Spotlight (Edgytim.com) (shared the award with Iowa quarterback Jake Christensen) ... In both 2003 and '04, named IHSCA all-state, Springfield State Journal-Register all-region, Central State Eight Player of the Year and Academic All-State ... Illinois "Tremendous 26" player ... Two-time Player of the Week in 2004 and Athlete of the Month ... Holds the top two single-season marks for total offense (3,250 yards in 2003 and 2,727 yards in 2004) at one of state's top football programs ... Ranks second on the Cyclones' career passing yardage chart (3,842 yards) ... Tallied a school-record 347 points and 7,303 yards of total offense for career ... Led the Cyclones to a four-year mark of 39-2 ... Selected to play in Illinois Coaches Association/Shriners' All-Star Game in July, 2005 ... Captain of football and basketball teams ... Point guard for Cyclones' hoops squad ... Also ran track one year ... NHS and High Honor Roll ... Coached by Ken Leonard.
Personal: Born Eric Michael Peterman ... Son of Cindy Haire and Mike Peterman ... Industrial engineering major and economics minor.
The Eric Peterman File
Q: Name your favorite songs (and artist) on your I-Pod:
A: Sorry, Blame it on Me -- Akon, Heart of a Champion -- Nelly, Remember the Name -- Fort Minor, Guys Like Me -- Eric Church, Where the Green Grass Grows -- Tim McGraw, Amarillo Sky -- Jason Aldean, Mountains -- Lonestar
Q: A song that best deccribes you is ...
A: "You Not Like Me" by 50 cent
Q: If you could dine with anyone from any period in history, who would it be?
A: Jesus Christ
Q: If you could choose the title for your autobiography, what would it be?
A: "The Renaissance Man: Eric Peterman"
Q: What is the greatest lesson in life that you have learned?
A: Things change, learn to adapt. Preparation is vital. "Don't give up, don't ever give up" - Jim Valvano. Trust and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
Q: My favorite opposing stadium to play in is ...
A: Arizona State
Q: The best book I have ever read ...
A: The Bible
Q: My ultimate SportCenter highlight would be ...
A: Throwing a TD pass, catching a TD pass, interception for a TD, a special teams TD, and then kicking the extra point to win the Rose Bowl
Q: The person that inspires me most is ...
A: Jesus Christ, my mother and my grandfather
Q: When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be ...
A: The kicker, I always loved making the game-winning field goal
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester?
A: Me
Q: The best thing about NU is ...
A: The location and balance between athletics and academics
Q: If you were to select a food that best describes your character, what food would it be?
A: Lasagna. I love pasta food and it has many layers, which I feel represent the many interests in my life
Q: Most humbling experience ...
A: Losing
Q: The three words that best describe me are ...
A: Spiritual, trustworthy and spare
Q: My favorite place to visit is:
A: Home, Chicago, Evanston and Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Q: Which current NU football player is the biggest jokester on the team?
A: Me
Q: Best part about being a Northwestern football player is:
A: We are part of the Big Ten and all of my teammates
Q: Describe Coach Fitzgerald in five words or less:
A: Demanding, Young, Knowledgeable, Crazy, Intense
Q: Describe your position coach (Kevin Johns) in five words or less:
A: Perfectionist, demanding, a go-getter
Q: My favorite pregame ritual is:
A: Relieving my butterflies
Q: My favorite food is:
A: Pasta, shrimp and steak
Q: My favorite thing about playing at Ryan Field is:
A: Family and the home-field grass
Q: My favorite television show is:
A: SportsCenter and Law and Order
Q: If I were not playing football, I would be:
A: Playing basketball
Peterman's Career Stats
RUSHING G Att Yds TD Lg Avg/C Avg/G2005................ 12 1 -1 0 0 -1.0 -0.12006................ 12 3 8 0 4 2.7 0.72007................ 12 13 58 0 21 4.5 4.82008................ 13 5 4 0 15 0.8 0.3TOTAL............... 49 22 69 0 21 3.1 1.4
PASSING G Att- Cmp- Int Yds TD Lg Pct Avg/P Avg/G Effic2005................ 12 0- 0- 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.02006................ 12 0- 0- 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.02007................ 12 3- 1- 0 13 0 13 33.3 4.3 1.1 69.72008................ 13 2- 2- 0 55 1 30 100.0 27.5 4.2 496.0TOTAL............... 49 5- 3- 0 68 1 30 60.0 13.6 1.4 240.2
TOTAL OFFENSE G Rush Pass Total Avg/G2005................ 12 -1 0 -1 -0.12006................ 12 8 0 8 0.72007................ 12 58 13 71 5.92008................ 13 4 55 59 4.5TOTAL............... 49 69 68 137 2.8
RECEIVING G Rec Yds TD Lg Rec/G Avg/C Avg/G2005................ 12 12 181 2 67 1.0 15.1 15.12006................ 12 23 349 1 52 1.9 15.2 29.12007................ 12 66 744 3 70 5.5 11.3 62.02008................ 13 59 737 6 53 4.5 12.5 56.7TOTAL............... 49 160 2011 12 70 3.3 12.6 41.0
SCORING G TD Rush Pass Retn PAT 2PAT FG Total Avg/G2005................ 12 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 12 1.02006................ 12 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 0.52007................ 12 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 18 1.52008................ 13 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 36 2.8TOTAL............... 49 12 0 12 0 0 0 0 72 1.5
PUNT RETURNS G No. Yds TD Lg Avg/R Avg/G2005................ 12 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.02006................ 12 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.02007................ 12 11 67 0 14 6.1 5.62008................ 13 7 44 0 18 6.3 3.4TOTAL............... 49 18 111 0 18 6.2 2.3
ALL PURPOSE G Rush Rec PR KR IR Total Avg/G2005................ 12 -1 181 0 0 0 180 15.02006................ 12 8 349 0 0 0 357 29.82007................ 12 58 744 67 0 0 869 72.42008................ 13 4 737 44 0 0 785 60.4TOTAL............... 49 69 2011 111 0 0 2191 44.7
TACKLES G UA A Total TFL-Yds PD FF FR Blkd2005................ 12 8 2 10 0.0-0 0 0 0 02006................ 12 1 1 2 0.0-0 0 0 0 02007................ 12 4 3 7 0.0-0 0 1 0 02008................ 13 5 1 6 0.0-0 0 0 1 0TOTAL............... 49 18 7 25 0.0-0 0 1 1 0