Rivals250 DE is wide open

A knack for science and math and an inquisitive nature will have a strong bearing on where Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic defensive end Jason Peters ends up playing his college football.

While the 6-foot-4, 262-pounder has not narrowed down his list of suitors, academics will be an important factor when he decides to do so.

"Academics are key to where I'm going," Peters said. "They have to have good academic support for the athletes. I will be looking at the academic support services they provide, including tutors and places set up for study. It's hard to play football and go to school, so I want to make sure that everything is in place there."

Given his possible majors, one should not blame Peters for wanting to make sure that a support system is in place.

"I want to major in pre-pharmacy or pre-med," Peters said. "That or I want to take all of the sciences that support those majors."

Peters believes the seeds were planted for him to have an interest in medicine at an early age.

"I'm very strong in my sciences and I'm also good at math," Peters said. "I've always taken an interest to it and when I was little I was always asking questions about things and not just accepting what was on the surface."

Peters has heard from LSU, Florida and Georgia Tech coaches since the contact period began last Friday. In addition to those three teams, he's interested in Stanford, Nebraska, Northwestern, Tennessee, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

With his focus on winning a state title his senior year; he won't be making any unofficial visits any time soon.

"Right now, I'm just giving everybody a fair look," Peters said. "It's coming closer to the time where I will narrow it down. I will be taking unofficial visits toward the end of the season; I want to focus on my high school team right now. Of course I'll be talking to coaches, but as far as going somewhere and seeing a school; I want all of my focus to be on winning a state championship."

Peters, an all-state and all-district selection as a junior, is the nation's No. 15 strongside defensive end prospect according to Rivals.com.