Oct. 1, 2008

2008 AFCA Good Works Team Release

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wide receiver Eric Peterman (Sherman, Ill./Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin) picked up his second honor of the week, earning a spot on the prestigious Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works team. Peterman is one of 11 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players named to the team, which honors players for their off-the-field accomplishments, namely community service and campus leadership.

This is the third consecutive year that Northwestern has had a player named to the Good Works team. Joel Howells (2006) and Adam Kadela (2007) earned the honor the past two years.

"I can't think of a more fitting Good Works Team representative than Eric," said NU coach Pat Fitzgerald. "His commitment to community service and leadership is second to none. Eric is constantly giving back, helping others and being a leader not only on our football team, but on campus."

Peterman, who earlier this week was named one of 30 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, serves on a number of committees and organizations on campus. He is a PURPLE (Peers Urging Responsible Practices through Leadership and Education) mentor for the athletic department, having served as a leader on this group the past two-plus years. He is also a SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) representative and an active member of the group for the past three years.

On campus, he is a member of the McCormick School of Engineering Student Advisory Board, the Undergraduate Leadership Program (campus leaders trying to better the University community), the National Scholar's Honor Society (elected to organization based on academic performance as well as community service and extracurricular activities), the Gateway Sciences Workshop Program (voluntary program for upperclassmen to mentor fellow engineering students), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the Northwestern Football Leadership Council (one of 10 elected leaders).

Off campus, Peterman is heavily involved in a number of community service projects, including visiting Children's Memorial Hospital on Friday mornings of weeks when the Wildcats play home football games, volunteering for Misericordia Candy Days, Dance Marathon, NU Field Day and CommUniversity Day. He also takes part in NU's annual visit from Special Spectators, an organization that brings chronically ill children and families to a football game each year.

"We are proud of our student-athletes and the contributions they make in our community," said Betsi Burns, NU's director of student development. "But Eric takes 'giving back' to a whole new level. He is the best of the best."

On the football field, Peterman is one of four team captains and a three-year starting wide receiver. For his career, he has 120 receptions for 1,516 yards and eight touchdowns. He presently ranks 12th in career receptions and 12th in career yardage, and is nearing the top 10 for TD receptions. In Saturday's win at Iowa, Peterman caught a pair of TD passes, including the game-winning score midway through the fourth quarter. He leads the 'Cats in receiving yards (242) and TD's (2), and is second in receptions (19).

Peterman also was named one of the 164 semifinalists for the 2008 Draddy Trophy today by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame. Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, semifinalists must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor, and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent dePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a 25-pound bronze trophy and a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.

Led by Peterman, Northwestern (5-0) is off to its best start in 46 years.