Former Georgia Southern University and Chicago Bears running back Adrian Peterson stopped by Walker Middle School in Ludowici on April 20.
WMS Principal Heath Crane said that Peterson dropped in to help motivate the students for the upcoming Georgia Milestones standardized tests.
Meeting with students in the school gymnasium, Peterson told them about his struggles with stuttering and how he overcame this problem. He also told the kids that they should always show respect for their parents and do what they tell them to do, because they are looking out for their best interests.
Peterson said that hard work always paid off and cutting corners would only hurt them. At the conclusion of his presentation, he led the students in a chant of, “Hard work pays off.”
After Peterson finished speaking, he spoke to the eighth-grade football team. After meeting the players and shaking their hands, he posed for a picture with the team, Crane and head coach Eric Hadley.
“We are so thankful for Adrian coming to our school and speaking to all of our students,” Crane said. “I know the kids enjoyed his presentation, and I am sure many will do better on the Georgia Milestones testing as a result of hearing him speak.”
Peterson, who played for the Eagles from 1998-2001, was a four-time All-American at GSU and led the team to Division 1-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) championships in 1999 and 2000. He ended his college career as the all-time leading rusher for Division 1 schools with 6,559 yards. Peterson was drafted into the NFL in 2002 by the Chicago Bears, where he played for eight seasons. He retired from professional football in 2010.
In 2012, he was inducted into the GSU Hall of Fame.