Football Southern Conference

Georgia Southern's Peterson Selected By Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jerry Angelo capped his first draft as Bears' GM
Sunday by adding depth and competition on offense with three sixth-round picks.

Georgia Southern running back Adrian Peterson (5-9, 205) is an
ultra-productive inside runner with the leg drive and stiff-arm techniques
to punish defenders.

Delaware wide receiver Jamin Elliott (5-11, 190) is a tough and athletic
playmaker with the capability to also return kicks.

And UCLA tight end Bryan Fletcher (6-5, 236) is a raw prospect that has
displayed the potential to become a contributor on offense and special teams.

The Bears' seventh-round choice was sent to Miami last year as part of the
Cade McNown trade.

Peterson is the most intriguing of the three late picks. He left Division
I-AA Georgia Southern as college football's all-time leading rusher with
6,543 yards (including playoffs). He also holds college marks with 36
straight 100-yard games, 40 total 100-yard performances, and 524 points.
Last season he was named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year
when he rushed for 1,795 yards and 21 touchdowns on 322 carries.

"He's gone for a lot of yards," marveled Bears coach Dick Jauron. "It
makes you tired just looking at the stats."

Built low to the ground, Peterson is a dynamic runner that is very
difficult to tackle.

"He reminded me of Mike Alstott in terms of his strength after contact,"
Angelo said. "He's got great balance after contact. Those yards that he
amassed, he's got to be doing something right."

The knocks against Peterson are that he was utilized as a wishbone
fullback in college and lacks the speed and elusiveness necessary to
succeed as an NFL tailback.

"He's a little bit of an enigma because of how they used him," Angelo
conceded.

Nonetheless, Jauron is eager for Peterson to begin competing with Leon
Johnson and free agent acquisition Rabih Abdullah
for a backup spot behind reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Anthony
Thomas.

"I just have a great feeling about this young man," Jauron said of
Peterson. "He's a bowling ball. He's going to be hard to knock off his feet
and he will challenge (for a job)."