Antwine Perez Explained

Antwine Perez
Number:2
Position:Safety
Birth Date:10 April 1988
Birth Place:Westville Grove, New Jersey, U.S.
High School:Camden (NJ) Woodrow Wilson
College:USC (2006)
Maryland (2008–2010)
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lbs:210

Antwine Perez (born April 10, 1988) is a former American college football player. He played as a free safety for the University of Maryland Terrapins. He played one season for the University of Southern California Trojans, before transferring. He was one of the most sought-after college recruits in the nation and received scholarship offers from over 40 schools.

Early life

He was born on April 10, 1988[1] in the Westville Grove area of Westville, New Jersey, to parents Phyllis and Lewis Perez. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, where he played high school football as a quarterback and defensive back. As a junior, he recorded 1,763 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, ten rushing touchdowns, 58 tackles, seven interceptions, and four forced fumbles. As a senior in 2005, he recorded 82 tackles, 10 deflections, seven interceptions, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.[2]

He was named a Parade All-American, USA Today first-team All-American, EA Sports first-team All-American,[3] SuperPrep All-American, PrepStar All-American, all-conference quarterback, all-conference defensive back, and first-team all-state player. Perez was honored as The Philadelphia Inquirer South Jersey Defensive Most Valuable Player, SuperPrep All-Northeast Defensive MVP, PrepStar All-Eastern, and Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year. He was named to the SuperPrep Elite 50, PrepStar Dream Team, and the ESPN 150.[2]

Perez was one of the most highly recruited players in the nation, and received in excess of forty scholarship offers.[4] Scout.com rated him as a five-star prospect and fifth-ranked defensive back, while Rivals.com rated him as a four-star prospect and the second-ranked defensive back.[5] [6] At least 47 programs offered Perez, including USC, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Tennessee.[7]

College career

Perez graduated from high school a semester early and enrolled at the University of Southern California. As a true freshman in 2006, he saw action in seven games, primarily in a special teams role. Perez made brief appearances as a reserve free safety against Arkansas, Stanford, and Oregon.[2] Perez decided to transfer to the University of Maryland with the hope of earning more playing time and to be closer to home.[8] He was required by NCAA transfer rules to sit out for one season.[2]

In 2008, he saw action in all 13 games including two starts as a free safety. He also served in a special teams role[2] and at linebacker due to the injury of Adrian Moten, the back-up for Moise Fokou.[9] He made his first career start in the upset win against California, where he replaced injured starter Terrell Skinner and recorded three tackles.[2]

CBS Sports considers him the eighth-ranked free safety prospect for the 2011 NFL draft,[10] while College Football News projected him as a possible fourth round selection if he had chosen to enter the 2010 NFL draft.[11]

During the 2010 season against Duke, Perez intercepted one pass and delivered a hard hit to break up another critical pass late in the game, which preserved a Maryland victory, 21–16.[12] At Boston College, Perez had two interceptions and forced a fumble to help Maryland to a 24–21 win. For his performance, he was named the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/players/playerpage/1254200 Antwine Perez, Maryland
  2. http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/perez_antwine00.html Player Bio: Antwine Perez
  3. http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfbrecruit/entries/2007/01/26/maryland_adds_s.html Maryland adds Southern Cal transfer, two others
  4. http://www.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&sid=1014&script=content.asp&cid=413792&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid= Antwine Perez surpasses 40-scholarship mark
  5. http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=1772882 Antwine Perez Profile
  6. http://www.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=34833&Sport=1 Antwine Perez Profile
  7. http://recruiting.scout.com/2/388204.html 47 Offers Already
  8. http://www.dailytrojan.com/2.1596/usc-football-transfers-seek-second-chance-1.1098995 USC football transfers seek second chance
  9. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/terrapins-insider/2008/10/perez_at_linebacker.html Perez at Linebacker
  10. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2011?&start_row=101 2011 Draft Prospects
  11. http://cfn.scout.com/2/856943.html 2010 NFL Draft Position Rankings: The Possible Fourth Rounders
  12. http://wakeforest.scout.com/2/1008286.html Terrapins Win in ACC Opener
  13. http://www.jimthorpeassoc.org/player%20of%20the%20week%20folder/Antwine%20Perez.html Antwine Perez of Maryland Named the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week