Peprah ready to star like older brother

Football talent runs deep in the Peprah family.

Green Bay Packers defensive back Charlie Peprah was one of the top defensive back recruits in the nation when he signed with Alabama out of high school. He went on to have a great career with the Crimson Tide, starting all four seasons and eventually getting drafted in the fifth round.

Now his younger brother, Josh Peprah, is already generating quite a buzz and easily will be one of the top players in the Lone Star State for the class of 2009.

At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Peprah is a star player for Plano (Texas) East and his coach, Johnny Ringo, sees nothing but big things for him in the future.

"He was first-team all-district as a safety and is doing well," Ringo said. "He's about 5-11, 180, probably a 4.6, not a blazer, but just a really playmaker and a great knack for breaking on the ball and a very aggressive tackler.

"Josh played offensive as a freshman, probably could for us, but hasn't done it right now. I didn't coach Charlie, but to me, they're bodies are similar, but Josh isn't obviously as filled out. I don't know that Charlie much taller than Josh. I would think listening to people talk they're very similar in style of play. He's on the radar. We've got him and there is probably four or five other sophomores that are juniors to be that have a chance to be highly recruited a long with him."

Peprah said everybody tries to compare him to his older brother – even himself – but he does notice some differences in their game

"He was a lot faster than me when he was my age, but I'm working on my speed right now," he said. "I'm a little bit bigger than he is. We have the same instincts, playing on the ball and whatever.

"It's kind of different with him being my brother, but everyone expects me to do better than everybody else. I looked up to him to stuff and what he's doing in the games. Watching tapes and asking questions if I need help. He's played, he's been there."

In 2006, Peprah had 82 tackles, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also had seven pass breakups, helping him earn first-team all-district and first-team all-county. He thinks he'll get to see some action on both sides of the football this season, but he loves playing safety.

"I think I'm an all-around kind of guy," he said. "I can play the deep pass, come across the middle and come up on the run."

Peprah is already getting quite a bit of recruiting attention already.

"Florida, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Ole Miss, and I think Mississippi State have already been sending me mail," he said. "Nothing from Alabama yet. I'm waiting on them, though."

So where would the Crimson Tide stand if they showed interest? Are there other dream schools that he'd love to hear from?

"They're right there with everybody else, but I guess the fans want me to go there," he said.

"Well, they just want what's best for me. They're not pushing me to go one school. Charlie just wants me to do what I need to do. I really like the SEC because they're big on defense. Yeah, and then some of my favorite schools are like California and USC and Michigan because when I was little I used to like them."