The buzz around rookie wide receivers D.J Moore and Calvin Ridley, who were both taken in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, has electrified fan bases as these two are expected to have big impacts in September. But what about other receivers that didn’t get their names called?
Enter Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Marcus Peterson, who takes the field for camp everyday in his No. 2 jersey knowing that every single route and play that he runs in practice matters in his fight to make the 53-man roster.
Peterson has been fighting for his place ever since beginning his football career in Inglewood, California rather late in his academic career.
“I was always into basketball,” Peterson said. “I did not start playing tackled football until I was in the 10th grade. I went to a very small private school in Los Angeles where they had an eight-man football team. I played flag once when I was seven years old then resulted into other sports.”
Peterson found his love for football in an unforgettable memory that stuck out to him when asked what his most memorable moment was.
“My most memorable moment was scoring five touchdowns one game and I was the back up quarterback because the starter was sick,” Peterson said. “It was very memorable because even though we lost, my dad ran on the field and gave me a hug and started crying.”
When it came time to pick a place to play beyond high school, Peterson had difficulty making up his mind and that is when he realized what his true passion was.
“I was conflicted because my best friend transferred from Oregon and Utah then went to the Division II school Seton Hill,” Peterson said. “I really just wanted to be with him for his last collegiate year as I was a transfer freshman and have fun and college then I all of a sudden fell in love with football.”
Peterson chose Seton Hill but not before he went to to an NAIA school in Kansas City, Missouri called Avila University.
He would then transfer as an undergrad at Seton Hill where he would play multiple positions on the football team including roles on special teams, cornerback, and the position he currently plays today. Wide Receiver.
He would transfer to the University of Derby in London where he went into a fifth-year master’s program.
He ultimately chose football and in 2016, he hired a top agent in the draft process where plans unfortunately went awry.
“I got with a top agent end of 2016,” Peterson said. “After the draft and I did not get a call he told me that he could no longer help me. So after that I went without an agent.”
Alone and without the support of anyone in the sports business, he would work out with former second overall selection Robert Griffin III who would go to his coach at the time Hue Jackson of the Cleveland Browns and vouch for him.
“In late July right before training camp I was working out with [Griffin III] when he signed with the Browns,” Peterson stated. “He really loved my athletic ability and called Hue Jackson and Sashi Brown (GM at the time) to come check me out, they liked my route running and hands but did not sign me.”
Today he finds himself in the same meeting rooms with one of the top receivers in the NFL in Keenan Allen, whom he had known previously through a few prior meetings. Reality then struck of where he was when he caught a pass from seven-time Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers.
“I’ve actually hung with Keenan twice due to mutual friends in the past but it was weird but felt surreal like ‘Wow I watch these guys on Youtube 24/7,'” Peterson laughed. “Seeing how big or small guys were was the real shock for me but most of the veterans are very welcoming and just down to earth to me. When I catch my first ball from Phillip Rivers I was like, ‘Wow I’m really in the NFL.’ Guys like (Mike) Pouncey, Travis Benjamin, Casey Hayward, Melvin Gordon and some UDFA’s have welcomed me in and are really cool with me.”
Throughout training camp and his time in the NFL he has learned plenty, but Peterson soon realized that things he thought were irrelevant have come to help him with his play.
“I’ve learned a lot, I remember being in elementary and middle school wondering why would I need to know geometry in life? Well now I know,” Peterson said. “Being a receiver, timing, angles, steps are very critical. I’ve learned a lot of being a professional off the field the most rather than on the field.”
Taking the field for his first two preseason games, many first time players would get some form of jitters, but Peterson took it in stride feeling that it felt like previous rehearsals rather than a game, even getting a crash course from one of the game’s greatest receivers.
“It has been really fun and exciting when I am on the field, I don’t see the fans I just feel as if I am at practice,” Peterson said. “It’s crazy because I’ve never been to an NFL game and the first time I went to one I was playing in it. Also, I had a good and brief conversation with Larry Fitzgerald after the first game and he was just giving me tips and advice.”
Despite all of these positives, Peterson still believes that he can improve all of his skill sets.
“I think I can improve on everything, I will never be content with my talent or skills,” Peterson said. “… I can and will work on my technique, being even more sharper, speed, my patience in route running and going one-on-one or against a defensive back, and watching studying more film on defenses and defenders individually.”
Peterson fought hard from starting football late in high school, to playing at Seton Hill, and working his way up to the NFL and he wants to share his story through more than just his play.
Peterson has started his own clothing line called Motivation Apparel Brand made to motivate fans with inspirational words he has told himself his whole life.
“MP” Motivational Brand Apparel, represents for anyone who has ever been overlooked, told they couldn’t achieve something, they aren’t good enough, or underestimated,” Peterson said. “Understanding that there are and will be times in our lives where we will be overlooked and counted out but we can never lose faith or site of our goals. No matter what industry we are in, we all have a story of challenges we endure to achieving success. This notion provides the opportunity to wear our struggles through apparel to ignite our dreams in overcoming the ‘No’s’ in life to becoming living proof of YES!”
For his brand, he hopes to spread the message of not just a man or woman being in control of their destiny, but to feel that God is behind you.
“MP'” apparel is a great concept to remind others and ourselves that when we recognize our “Why” & “Purpose,” Peterson said. “In life having control of the ending result and can never give up on our dreams. Understanding, that whatever happens, a human being does not have the last word for on our destiny, God does.”
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