STATESBORO — The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision offensive player of the year award, presented by College Sporting News, has been named in honor of former Georgia Southern running back Adrian “A.P.” Peterson.
Peterson remains the leading rusher in NCAA Division I history with 6,599 career yards, a mark he set more than a decade ago. From 1998-2001, Peterson played for the Eagles, helping Georgia Southern win two NCAA Division I FCS championships in three title-game appearances. In 57 career games, including the playoffs, he carried 1,378 times for 9,145 yards, for an average of 6.6 yards per carry, with 111 touchdowns and an average of 160.44 yards per game.
“Wow … I am humbled by this honor and am truly blessed that my name will be attached to this award,” Peterson said. “My teammates played a major part in my success at Georgia Southern University, and I am forever grateful for what we were able to accomplish as Eagles and for Eagle Nation.” Peterson set the NCAA record for most rushing yards in a season for a freshman, and at the end of his college career he held 25 game, single-season and career records in the league and owned 16 NCAA Division I records.
On Sept. 29, 2012, Peterson was inducted into the Georgia Southern Hall of Fame and as a member of the inaugural class of the Southern Conference Hall of Fame in 2009.
His autobiography, “Don’t Dis My Abilities” (a play on words regarding his speech impediment), was released in 2012. A portion of the book’s sales fund a scholarship at GSU.