Eric Peterman pretty much expected to run a sub-4.5 time in the 40-yard dash at Northwestern’s pro day on Thursday.
Maybe it was the 17 NFL scouts in attendance that were not necessarily expecting that. The WIldcats wide receiver created quite a buzz for himself afterward with times of 4.45 seconds and 4.47 seconds to go with a nifty three cone drill time of 6.58. As one source said, he could have run himself straight into the draft.
“It’s kind of what I’ve been doing,” Peterman said. “That’s right at what I’ve been running, maybe just a little bit better.”
Peterman had seven catches for 83 yards in the Alamo Bowl loss to Missouri and eight catches for 111 yards in the regular-season finale vs. Illinois. He finished his senior season with 59 catches, 737 yards and six touchdowns.
The key for him to make an NFL roster, though, is going to be his versatility. A late-round pick at wide receiver has to be able to pitch in on special teams and that is where he feels he has an edge. He cut his teeth on special teams as a freshman at NU and was a four-phase performer. That’s what NFL teams seek.
“It’s kind of a mixture of both for me,” he said. “Teams definitely want to see me play receiver but I have a knack for special teams and that’s kind of where I made the most impact throughout all four years. So, it’s trying to do a combination of both to get my foot in the door. Once I get comfortable on special teams then I look for more playing time at receiver.”
Peterman expects to get a few visits or private workouts scheduled. Green Bay could be one team on his list. The Packers were present Thursday.
