The 5 Most Successful Small-School Running Backs in the NFL
Adrian N. Peterson
College: Georgia Southern University (FCS)
Drafted: 2002, 6th Round (199th Overall)
Career Total NEP: 29.54
No, not that Adrian Peterson. This one came first, but we have to refer to him with his middle initial; even this shows his lesser perception compared to his peers. But what about the original Adrian Peterson’s origins?
Hailing from Florida, Peterson’s high school career saw him rack up 4,949 rushing yards across his career at Santa Fe High School. He was a two-time All-State, All-Area, and team MVP winner in his football career, and was named an All-American by ESPN his senior year. He chose to attend FCS program Georgia Southern, which he also took by storm. His 6,559 career rushing yards for GSU are still a Division I record, and he won the Walter Payton Award his sophomore year.
Still, his lack of big school shine allowed Peterson to fall to the 6th Round of the 2002 Draft, where the Chicago Bears selected him. He spent his career as a backup, special teams player, and situational rusher but lasted eight years in the NFL and put together seven seasons above replacement-level, despite posting a double-digit Total NEP in just one season.
