Regardless of what happens this season, senior linebacker Joseph Peterson will be able to leave the Georgia State football team knowing he has played a key role in the development of the young program. And that he has provided more than one’s share of highlights too.
The 6-foot, 225-pound senior from Dothan, Ala., a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection, said while the win total hasn’t been what those associated with the GSU program had hoped, the key to the past few seasons has been the growth that has taken place. This season, he suggested, Panther fans will witness more growth, and if all goes the way Peterson sees it, more wins too.
“The transition (from the first year he was there in 2012) has been amazing,’’ Peterson said. “We’re growing each and every year, from the first year I came in with coach Bill Curry, when we were FCS. Even making that step up to FBS and the Sun Belt has been an awesome transition. Like coach (Trent Miles) always says, it takes a little time to transition as a program, but we’re making huge strides.’’
Last season, Georgia State posted a 1-11 record, but despite those numbers, Peterson said what is more important to see is the overall improvement of the team, an improvement he said he believes will carry over into the 2015 season, which begins for the Panthers on Sept. 4 at home against Charlotte in the Georgia Dome.
“Our team is getting a lot better,’’ Peterson said. “We have a new strength and conditioning coach, coach (Scott) Holsopple, and he brings a whole different energy and mindset to the team. He’s gotten us a lot bigger and stronger. I keep joking with other guys about how I’m not able to wear ties anymore with shirts because my neck has gotten too big for me. It’s really been a blessing how much we have grown.’’
That doesn’t mean Peterson is discounting the importance of producing more victories. He said that is where most measure a program’s growth and improvement and it is an area that must improve for the Georgia State program to continue to move forward.
“The ultimate goal is to win games; that’s what we haven’t accomplished yet,’’ he said. “That’s what we plan on doing my last year (this season).
“It’s been pretty tough. We’re making steps in the right direction. With the new strength coach and the coaching staff and being able to recruit better players, we’re getting better every year. It’s a process and I think we’re definitely on our way up.’’
Peterson has done his part toward that aim. He is the school’s all-time leading tackler with 265 stops heading into this season. He was third in the Sun Belt and No. 25 in the country last year with an average of 9.7 tackles per game. He missed two games with an ankle injury but when he was on the field Peterson was a force for the Panthers. He produced four tackles for a loss, three sacks, one interception, two pass breakups and forced a fumble in leading the GSU defense last year.
That kind of production will be needed by the Panthers again this season as they attempt to reach the expectations Peterson has set for them.
“He brings tenacity and a level-headedness,’’ head coach Trent Miles said of Peterson. “When things aren’t going right in practice, he’ll be the first one to pull guys in and say, ‘We’ve got to pick this up.’ He’s never out of control. He’s the first one in the weight room and the last one to leave. He’s pushing younger guys. If we have someone who makes a mistake and we give him a second chance, he always says he wants them to room with him and he puts them under his wing.
“His leadership qualities are impeccable and he’s a great football player. He’s a very physical player. We had to go out and find him some help so he doesn’t have to play every play and we can get him some help. He’s really the kind of person we want in our program.’’
Peterson’s on-field production is as vital to Georgia State’s move forward as his leadership qualities, Miles added.
“It’s huge because coaches can’t make plays,’’ Miles said. “Coaches can’t practice and go out and do it all. You have to get to a situation where you have your players taking ownership and responsibility for your team. Joe does that and it’s refreshing to have him and see other guys improve their play because of him. I’ve seen other guys, because of the way he plays, from a mental standpoint and his approach to the game, change the way they play to the way he plays.’’
The leadership aspect of his role with the team is a conscious effort by Peterson, who has been asked to take on a productive role with the defense since the first day he stepped on the practice field with the Panthers as a freshman.
“I definitely take a lot of ownership in what’s going on with our defense,’’ he said. “Whatever is going on, bad or good, I’ll take that on me. I really developed that leadership coming in as a freshman actually. I didn’t know how to be a leader but it kind of fell on me as a freshman because of my play. I definitely developed as a man and being able to lead a team. I take responsibility for the defense. This being my last year, I want to see the change.
“The defense has to be huge for us this year. With the Air Raid offense able to put up so many points, we have to be able to stop (opponents) from putting up so many points. It’s hard in general being able to stop offenses in college football because of the way they are able to spread out and score so many points. But I think with the guys we recruited – we’ve got a bunch of JUCO guys who have a lot more experience, so we’re an older team real quick, and some UAB transfers too that bring a lot of energy to the team and a lot of energy – we should be a lot better on defense.
“We have a lot of younger guys who played a lot my first couple of years here at Georgia State and now they’re juniors and sophomores with a lot of experience.”
Peterson said he is also eager to see the Georgia State program gain some positive attention this season. And he is ready to do his part. Again. After all, it was the newness of the program and the opportunity to be a part of building the Panthers’ program that attracted him to the school in the first place.
“Being able to come in and start something and to be a part of history, just like snapping your fingers, that fast. That’s exactly what happened,’’ Peterson said. “I was able to come in and I was able to set all types of individual records and accolades within the program because we just got started.
“It began for me back in Dothan, Alabama, in high school, how we started our program off. We started a little slow but we picked it up toward the end of my senior season. I think we’re going to do the same thing here. It takes time, but I definitely think it’s due time.
“We’re ready. We have a countdown and it’s coming fast. We’re ready.’’