By BETH FOLEY
The Palestine Herald
December 08, 2008 09:16 am
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Adrian Peterson may be running away from NFL defenses but he hasn’t run from his hometown, says his father.
Nelson Peterson said Friday afternoon that his son, Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson, who leads NFL rushers with 1,311 yards on 270 carries, has not forgotten his roots in Palestine.
His “all day” foundation is teaming up with the East Texas Food Bank to deliver 280 food boxes to families in need in Palestine in the near future as a way to give back to those at home, Peterson’s father said.
“We were talking and he wants to do something to help,” Nelson Peterson said. “Adrian’s never forgotten where he came from.”
Peterson drew national attention as a standout for the Palestine Wildcats, eventually signing with Oklahoma University as the nation’s top-rated recruit. He quickly lived up to his promise in college, finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting as a true freshman.
He opted to forgo his senior season at OU to enter the NFL Draft in April 2007 and was a lottery pick, the first pick of the Minnesota Vikings and seventh overall choice.
As a rookie running back last season, Peterson earned Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl MVP honors while amassing 1,341 yards rushing and scoring 12 touchdowns.
Even with defenses keyed to shut down the Vikings’ run game, Peterson still has averaged 4.9 yards a carry and scored nine rushing touchdowns. His best game thus far came against Green Bay in Week 10 when he rushed for 192 yards on 30 carries, a 6.4 yards per carry average, and scored once. Peterson also rushed for 160 yards against the Colts in Week 2.
Not all of the 23-year-old’s stats have occurred on the playing field.
In the year’s time that the “all day” foundation has been up and running, Peterson has worked with Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics.
Last summer, around 20 local boys won an all-expenses-paid week at Peterson’s first football camp held in Norman, Okla. after entering a drawing at the Adrian Peterson Day celebration.
He and four other Vikings players also plan to help make Christmas a little brighter for some children in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area on Dec. 16 with a shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods, his father said.
“He’s very excited about helping youth,” Nelson Peterson said. “He wants to do things to help underprivileged kids. There’s a special place in his heart to help kids any way possible.”
As for the local food donation, the number of boxes is simple — Peterson’s number 28 jersey times 10. His foundation donated $9,000 to the East Texas Food Bank for the food boxes, which will be delivered later this month by officers and volunteers from the foundation.
“The economy is hitting all areas of people’s lives. Prices have risen everywhere from gas to utilities, leaving very little money for groceries,” Nelson Peterson said. “People are having a hard time right now. It’s time for individuals to step up, especially during this holiday season, and give to families.”
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Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com
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