North Carolina Central University

FOOTBALL

     NEW YORK - North Carolina Central University defensive lineman Greg Peterson has been selected in the fifth round (No. 141), by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, of the 2007 NFL Draft.  The Criminal Justice major is the first NCCU player selected since Robert Massey, who roamed the Eagles' secondary from 1985-88, was the 46th player taken in the 1989 draft.
    Peterson was not even watching the television coverage of the NFL Draft when he became the school’s first draft pick in 18 years.
     Projected as a sixth or seventh round selection, Peterson had just taken a shower and was hanging out with his grandmother, Betty Pickett, at her home in Techey, N.C. when his phone rang.
     On the other end was Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, who asked Peterson what he promised him when the two met earlier this year. “I told him that I would lead the team in effort,” Peterson recalled. 
Then Gruden said, “Congratulations.”
     After receiving more congratulatory wishes from the Buccaneers defensive line coach and defensive coordinator, Peterson spoke with some reporters from the Tampa Bay area who asked him about being drafted from a Division II school.
     “It doesn’t matter where you play,” Peterson said. “I gave everything I had on the field and stayed out of trouble. I wasn’t looking to get drafted, I just wanted a chance. Now I have that chance.”
     Peterson then gave praise to NCCU, where he earned all-conference, all-region and Black College All-America honors and played on two CIAA Championship teams. 
     “It was an honor to play at North Carolina Central, and I am thankful to Coach Broadway (former NCCU head coach Rod Broadway) and Coach Yoshida (former NCCU defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Clifford Yoshida). They taught me a lot. They are a big reason I am where I am today.”
     A 6-5, 286-pound native of Beulaville, N.C., Peterson had a monster 2006 season for NCCU, ranking 13th in the NCAA with 19.5 tackles for a loss (1.6 TFL per game), while  adding a team-high two fumble recoveries. Peterson utilized brute strength, solid technique and distinct quickness to amass 7.5 sacks, another team-high, from his defensive tackle position in the Eagles' 4-3 defensive alignment. 
     During the 2006 season, Peterson, a graduate of East Duplin High School and transfer from Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, received a myriad of conference, regional and national awards. 
     He was voted All-Conference (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) First Team, Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Second Team and SBN Sports Black College All-America Team, as NCCU finished its perfect regular season en route to a No. 1 seed in the Division II playoffs. 
     With the aid of Peterson dominating the interior line, the Eagles were crowned Sheridan Broadcasting Network Black College Football National Champions for the first time in the 33-year history of the poll.
     Massey, who ranks third on NCCU's all-time interceptions list, was drafted in the second round by the New Orleans Saints and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1992. 
     Peterson was the lone CIAA player taken.

"In the fifth round we took DT Greg Peterson, a young man from North Carolina Central [University], who will be slated to play the under tackle position. He’s a big guy that we liked a lot. We realize he’s from a small college but he does have a lot of traits that fit our scheme. He’s big, athletic, he’s got a real big upside, he’s got good energy. He’s healthy and he’s a guy we like."