When LSU redshirt freshman wide receiver Avery Peterson — brother of former Tiger standout Patrick Peterson — committed to LSU, success seemed predetermined for the receiver ranked No. 23 in the country by ESPN in 2012.
Little did Avery know his life would be turned upside down by a series of personal nightmares that threatened to derail his once-promising football career.
Avery was a highly touted recruit out of Ely High School in southern Florida, where he caught 113 balls for 1,752 yards and 20 touchdowns in his three seasons with the school. He committed to LSU in fall 2010 as a sophomore, a decision spurred on by the desire to play for the team where his brother Patrick once played.
But before he could step on the field for the Tigers two years later, Avery encountered the first obstacle that started him down the winding path of his collegiate football career.
He learned he was academically ineligible to play for LSU in 2012, forcing him to withdraw his commitment to the school.
“It was disappointing and sad,” Avery said. “I always wanted to come here because my brother was here, but it was disappointing what happened, and so I just had to do what I had to do to get in. There was no giving up.”
Avery went on to enroll in Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia, after high school — a humbling experience, according to Avery. He said it taught him to do the right things the first time while on his path to reviving his career.
After successfully completing a semester in the academy, Avery joined the Tigers in January 2013 hoping to fulfill his dream to play football for LSU, but he was halted by yet another setback: an injury that threatened his season.
After a successful spring camp in 2013, Avery was a hot topic among LSU coaches, becoming a viable receiving option for the Tigers’ offense. But during fall camp, he broke his ankle, forcing him to take a medical redshirt.
“It was disappointing,” Avery said. “Yet another setback, but it got me better and got me where I am today.”
After the injury, Avery completed rehabilitation and caught numerous balls from the quarterbacks to make sure he wasn’t falling too far behind as the rest of his Tiger teammates kept moving forward.
LSU sophomore receiver Travin Dural said he noticed a significant boost in Avery’s game and work ethic since the injury.
“He wants to win at everything,” Dural said. “If he messes up on a rep, he’s not going to let you take that rep [until he gets it right]. He has grown a lot since his injury … since he got healthy, he is a completely different person. He has grown so much, and he is a way better player now than he was when he first got here.”
Dural added while Avery has a quiet, reserved personality, he’s a very determined receiver who challenges himself daily.
“He’s a guy who’s really focused,” Dural said. “We’ll be going through walkthroughs and he’ll be standing off a little bit to the side, focusing on what’s going on and what play it is while some guys may be in the back laughing or clowning. But he’s a guy that’s really focused and locked-in during practice.”
Now with a clean bill of health and slated to contribute to a young offense, Avery said he is more determined than ever to finally get his career started for the Tigers.
“I’m just coming in catching balls and getting the right routes,” Avery said. “Learning the combinations and the plays and everything so I can be ready for when they call my number to get into the game.”