2024 Husker Signee Analysis: Offensive Lineman Jake Peters

A quick and agile Iowan with a smaller frame, he has been earmarked as a center at Nebraska

Jake Peters via Twitter

The message has been similar from the past several Nebraska football head coaches. When they've talked of how they want to build the roster, they've said they want to start from within the borders and prioritize the 500-mile radius.

The results from those coaches varied, but none have backed it up like Matt Rhule. Under the current leadership, Nebraska has signed 16 in-state players in the last two recruiting cycles with an additional eight from bordering states.

They've targeted national recruits in their backyard and they've also uncovered under-the-radar players at camps. The latter is how they ended up discovering Cedar Falls (Iowa) High School lineman Jake Peters.

College football can be a game of measurables, so the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Peters spent much of his recruitment being slow-played by Power Five programs. Regional schools like Iowa, Kansas State and Iowa State had been in consistent contact for months, but his smaller frame caused them to essentially wait-list him.

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In late May as Peters was mapping out a June camp schedule to try and earn Power Five opportunities, he was contacted by Keith Williams. Nebraska's director of player personnel told him he liked his film and invited him to camp in Lincoln.

While his size may have deterred Power Five programs, Peters had been a hot commodity for Group of Five and FCS programs all spring. He arrived on campus June 10 holding over 15 offers from schools like Coastal Carolina, Northern Illinois, UAB, Army, Air Force, North Dakota State, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Illinois State, Northern Iowa and a host of Ivy League programs.

After impressing coaches during his camp performance, he was approached by a Husker staffer who pulled him away and brought him to Matt Rhule's office. There he talked with Rhule and O-line coach Donovan Raiola. Both coaches had worked closely with Peters during the day and told him they liked his film and what they saw from him at the camp.

At the end of the meeting Rhule offered him a scholarship. Nebraska had put an emphasis on finding interior linemen in the 2024 class and with limited space, they set up his official visit for the following weekend.

Peters, a life-long Iowa fan, had already set up a visit to Iowa City to camp on June 13. With his first Power Five offer in hand from the Huskers, he arrived to give Hawkeye coaches one more shot at getting serious in his recruitment. He left without an offer and a similar message that they were going to continue to evaluate him.

Peters was back in Lincoln for his official visit June 16-18. He was hosted by Ethan Piper, who raved about Donovan Raiola as a coach and father figurer. Peters also took notice of how tight-knit the room was and the family feel throughout the program. Peters spent a lot of time around Raiola and liked his approach with the room.

He'd planned on attending a camp at Kansas State the following weekend, June 25, but saw all he needed to see. He committed during his visit and publicly announced his decision in a social media post June 18.

Despite his frame, Peters played primarily left tackle for Cedar Falls. He's been told by the staff that they want him on the interior and have earmarked him as a center. Peters regularly works at The Strength U, a training facility near Iowa City, and has been working on some drills specific to the position change which he's talked about with Raiola.

A multi-sport athlete, Peters is also a standout on the basketball court and finished 14th in the discus and 20th in the shot put during the Iowa high school state track meet in May 2023. He has PRs of 52' 7.75" (shot put) and 146' (discus).

Peters was the only junior to be named IPSWA/IFCA Class 5A first-team all-state and was named to the Des Moines Register's Class 5A first-team all-state team as a senior.

Peters is a very good athlete who is nimble on his feet. He uses his quickness and agility to easily climb to the second and third levels to take on defenders downfield. He plays with a mean streak and is an impressive drive-blocker for his size.

The staff is confident they'll be able to add good weight through their strength and nutrition program without sacrificing the athletic traits that make him such an intriguing developmental prospect.

With this staff you can't completely shut the door on a switch the defense, either. When he was at Nebraska's camp, Husker coaches initially told him they liked him on both sides of the ball. If Peters is unable to put on the prerequisite size to hold up in the Big Ten as an offensive linemen, he could be a candidate to join Terrance Knighton's room.