I was born to Clifton and Vanessa Peters on June 8, 1988 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Throughout my youth I spent time in Lorman, Ms and Laredo, Tx before eventually settling in Louisville, Ky. My parents constantly reinforced the importance of education to me and my two older brothers throughout our lives.  I attended Louisville Central High school where studied diligently and excelled in four sports (football, wrestling, baseball, track & field). In a variety of ways sports was where I found my acceptance. I am naturally introverted and I never quite possessed the traits that make a teenager "cool" to his peers. Through sports I made many lifelong friends who have been critical in my development. 

 

Wrestling culture is unique in that the tournaments usually happen on weekends and last all day. These were opportunities to spend long periods of times with good friends. I noticed early on that my parents were more involved than the majority of the other parents. My mother would attend these tournaments and in some ways became a listening ear and counselor to most of my friends. I would absolutely hate when my mother bothered my friends about their grades, signing up to take the act/sat tests, or inquired about future plans. She would aggressively encourage them to actively plan and prepare for the future. I didn't like how much extra work she made us do at the time and I felt that my friends certainly didn't want to be bothered. I didn't realize until later how much my friends and I would appreciate the support and encouragement she provided. During my freshman year of college my friends and I got back together in Louisville and each of them thanked her for pushing them to take those tests and basically forcing them to apply to college. 

 

Around the same time I was finishing up my freshman year at the University of Kentucky (UK) where I also played football. During this stage of my journey my life was forever changed. I met my college sweetheart & soulmate. But more importantly I had decided that I wanted make an impact on kids lives. I wanted them to have the same opportunities that I had because of my education. Once I finished my general courses at UK I decided to go into the education field. I graduated from the University of Kentucky in December of 2009 with a degree in Secondary Social Studies Education. In the spring of 2010 I was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). After taking a few years off from higher learning I decided to prepare myself for my post football career. I enrolled in the Masters of Education program at Michigan State University (MSU). I will graduate from MSU in 2015 with a better understanding of the education system and new techniques that will allow me to have more success. The experiences and knowledge gained throughout both programs has prepared me well for my future career in education. 

 

In 2014 I created Peters Educational Enrichment Project (PEEP). It is a 501c3 non profit organization that is designed to supplement the public school system and aid minority students in a variety of ways that will in turn help them attend college. Although in the beginning stages, my goal is to use the NFL platform to build the foundation into a national organization that helps as many students as possible. Upon retirement I will dedicate all my time and efforts into the organization and its programs. I also work with a variety of other organizations to raise money or mentor children. I'm extremely passionate about the mission of improving the futures of our youth. 

 

In 2015 my contract expired with the Atlanta Falcons and I signed with the Arizona Cardinals. I look forward to this next chapter of my life. I have been married for two years to Genna-Gabrielle Peters and she is my best friend. I am very thankful for her and that she shares my passion for helping people in need.  We like to think that our journey is young and we look forward to making and impact on this world.