by Lee Brecheen
July 28, 2011 - It’s been a long time since Covington High School has had a big time recruit, going back to QB Steve Smith (Stanford) and OT Trey Champayne (6-7, 300) (LSU) in the 1990’s, to the late All American Kicker John Marino (McNeese State) and DB Lawrence Darby (McNeese State). Don’t foget the former Lion from this past year, Otis Jacobs, who signed with Texas A&M as a DB.
2012 Class Linebacker Otha Peters is the best LB to come out of Covington in over 20 years, and he has verbally committed to play football at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Otha Peters is 6-1, 223 pounds, and he runs a 4.6/40.
This kid can play either MLB or OLB in different schemes in college, because he’s big enough to be a middle and fast enough to cover outside. I love his upside and how good he will be in another year or two in college. I can see this kid weighing 235 to 240 when he’s done growing and still being able to run a really good 40 yard dash.
In a normal year in recruiting for Louisiana there are very few Linebackers that are DI high level to recruit. This year there are as many as 10 Linebackers that will sign DI, and Otha Peters is a great example of how deep the talent is in the state this year at the Linebacker position. Otha will probably play a lot as a true freshman in 2012 because Tennessee is in great need of help at that position. Another reason he will play early in college is his great physical strength in the weight room. Otha Peters squats 460, benches 340, and cleans 275 pounds. Those are way above average lifts for a kid in high school in the weight room. He is also qualified in the classroom with an ACT score of a 22. He had 104 tackles for his team in 2010 with 1 interception.
I look forward to seeing him play again in 2011, like I did in 2010, and I think this kid has a bright future in college football and maybe beyond one day.
Read more about the Covington Lions and Otha Peters in the upcoming 2011 preview issue of Louisiana Football Magazine that you can order at www.lafootballmagazine.com/store.
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Hope you enjoy the interview below with Mark Clements
Interview by Mark Clements
LAFM: For starters, what’s your current height, weight and forty time?
OP: I’m 6’1”, 223 pounds and I run a 4.61.
LAFM: Are you originally from Louisiana?
OP: Yeah I am. I grew up in Covington.
LAFM: Which teams did you root for growing up?
OP: Well, LSU and the Ravens. I liked their defense and Ray Lewis.
LAFM: When did you first start playing football?
OP: When I was six. I played running back and linebacker.
LAFM: has it always been a big part of your family?
OP: Yes sir, all my cousins played football and my dad played football, so yeah it’s a pretty big in my family.
LAFM: Did your cousins or your dad play in college or the Pros?
OP: No, they didn’t play in college or the Pros. My dad played at Varnado High School.
LAFM: Do you play any other sports?
OP: I played basketball my freshman year and that’s it. I stopped because I knew I needed to focus on football.
LAFM: Do you play any other positions?
OP: I play running back.
LAFM: If so, where do you see yourself being recruited?
OP: Linebacker. I don’t play running back that much, I just play running back on like 3rd and short or fourth down.
LAFM: What do you think is your biggest strength as a linebacker?
OP: My biggest strength as a linebacker I think is I can find the ball. I’ve got a good motor.
LAFM: What part of your game are you trying to improve upon most next year?
OP: The one thing I need to work on is using my hands and getting off the blocks better.
LAFM: Is there anyone in college or the Pros that you try to model your game after?
OP: Yeah, Patrick Willis. There are some linebackers than can just hit but they can’t really run, but he can do both. He can play both, he can cover and hit. I just want to be like him.
LAFM: Have you been to any camps at this point? If so, which ones?
OP: I’ve been to Tennessee, LSU and Ole Miss Camp. I probably won’t go to any other camps, but I’ll probably take some more visits. I’ll go take another visit to Tennessee and Nebraska.
LAFM: Which colleges have you received offers from?
OP: I have 15 offers. I have offers from Tennessee, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tulane, Southern Miss and Texas A&M.
LAFM: I see you’re committed to Tennessee, any other schools making a push?
OP: Well I’m committed to Tennessee and the other schools I like are Nebraska and Ole Miss.
LAFM: Have you thought about what you might want to study in college?
OP: Maybe sports medicine or physical therapy.
LAFM: What are some goals you’ve set for next season, for yourself and for the team?
OP: Yes sir, two of them. I want to hopefully make first-team All-State, and also win a state championship.
LAFM: Which school is your favorite to play against, or which game gets you the most fired up each year?
OP: Our rival – St. Paul’s. It hasn’t been a good game for the past two years, but it will be this year.
LAFM: What are some of the most memorable games or plays you’ve been a part of?
OP: Yes sir, this past year against Denham Springs, I had 9 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble and an interception and I was St. Tammany Player of the Week. Then right after that I found out that my grandpaw passed away and it felt like that game was for him.
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