The next great Memphis Melrose defender

Memphis (Tenn.) Melrose always has one of the top defensive units in the state of Tennessee at any classification. It also usually produces at least one elite college prospect per year. In 2008, Antonio Harper signed with the University of Miami. In 2009, Greg King signed with the University of Tennessee. The tradition may continue in 2010 with outside linebacker Lawrence Peterson.

Playing both defensive end and linebacker in Melrose's stout defensive unit, Peterson piled up 97 tackles and 8 sacks in 2008.

"The beginning of the season, I was playing defensive end," Peterson said. "I had eight sacks at the beginning of the season and then we switched to a 3-4 so I moved to outside linebacker and I had a lot of batted passes."

Peterson's size and versatility allows him to be the perfect outside linebacker in a 3-4 with the ability to rush the passer.

"I'm a Joey Porter type guy, an outside linebacker," he said. "I'm a hybrid, a James Harrison type."

Peterson has already been to junior days at Southern Miss, Alabama and Memphis. While he doesn't hold any offers to date, he also is being recruited by schools such as Clemson, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Louisville, Auburn and Georgia. He also has an aggressive spring and summer schedule for college visits.

"I'm going to Ole Miss and Tennessee," he said. "I've already visited Alabama and I'm going back to visit them again. I'm going to visit Southern Miss and I'm going to visit Arkansas and Arkansas State."

It is easy to see why so many schools have an interest in Peterson's ability.

"It's my intensity," he said. "I've got a motor that doesn't quit. You think you're getting me and I'm going to fight my way back in. I also have great speed off the ball…We had Antonio Harper and Greg King and I'm supposed to be the next great linebacker coming out of Melrose."

With the history that Melrose has, that is a title that carries a lot of weight.