TicketsCINCINNATI, Ohio (May 25)
University of Cincinnati junior defensive end Antwan Peek has been selected as one of five student-athletes nationally to receive the N4A Student-Athlete Achievement Award.
The award is presented annually by the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) to student-athletes who have, "overcome great personal, academic and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics."
Peek will be presented with the award on Sunday, June 17 at the N4A annual convention in Providence, RI.
On the FieldPeek emerged in 2000 as one of the most dominating defensive performers in Conference USA, doing so in just his first season playing on the defensive line.
He was the recipient of the team's John Pease Award as the top defensive linemen, finishing second among the linemen with 37 tackles while leading the team in tackles for loss (13), quarterback sacks (8.5), quarterback hits (17), and quarterback hurries (9).
Peek's outstanding play was not limited to just the defense as he blocked three field goals during the season on special teams, tying an NCAA single game record with two blocked field goals against Miami (OH).
Peek and the Bearcats are coming off a 7-5 record in 2000, including an appearance in the Motor City Bowl -- Cincinnati's second bowl bid in four seasons.
About The AwardPresented by the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics, the Achievement Award is given to between five and 10 student-athletes annually from all level schools across the country. It is designed to honor student-athletes who have "overcome great personal, academic and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics." To be eligible, student-athletes must have completed at least four quarters and passed 48 hours of classes.
About Antwan PeekAntwan Peek is completing his third year at the University of Cincinnati and has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He joined the program in the fall of 1998 and played as a reserve. He redshirted following a shoulder injury early in the 1999 season. He moved to defensive end at the start of preseason practice in 2000 and thrived, receiving the team's John Pease Award as the top defensive linemen. He finished second among the linemen with 37 tackles while leading the team in tackles for loss (13), quarterback sacks (8.5), quarterback hits (17) and quarterback hurries (9).
The Antwan Peek StoryAntwan Peek, a native of Cincinnati and graduate of Woodward High, has had to overcome many obstacles to achieve academic success.
Peek's father was not part of his life during his early years. While living with his mother, they each suffered physical abuse at the hands of a boyfriend which caused them to live for short periods in a car and change addresses frequently.
While in the third grade, Peek's mother dropped out of his life, leaving him to live with his aunt, Carolyn Peek, for the next six years.
Peek became fast friends with his cousin, Urban Maurice Jackson, who was the same age.
"We had always had a good relationship, even before I stayed with them, but our relationship grew stronger," Peek said. "We did everything together, from skipping school to wearing matching clothes. We both failed seventh grade and had to attend summer school.
"After the year of summer school, we made a promise to my aunt that we were both going to get our high school diploma."
Peek kept his word and worked harder in class, but in August of 1994, Jackson died suddenly of appendicitis and Peek struggled with the loss, eventually failing eighth grade.
"The death of my cousin, along with athletics, persuaded me to get my education and to make something out of my life before it was too late," Peek said.
Peek began an accelerated program that had him spend a half of a year finishing eighth grade and the second half as a freshman at Aiken High. During this period, Peek established a relationship with his father, eventually moving in with him.
In the fall of 1995, Peek transferred as a sophomore to Woodward High and eventually graduated with his class in the spring of 1998.
While at Woodward, Peek found athletics, playing both football and basketball, excelling in both. He had scholarship offers to play both sports at numerous schools across the country, but eventually decided to stay at home and play at the University of Cincinnati.
Peek struggled attempting to juggle both collegiate athletics and academics, causing him to perform poorly in the class room.
"My freshman year of college was all that I did not want it to be," Peek said. "I did not want to have a lot of homework and all I wanted to do was party and my grades reflected this. I knew that I had to get my act together so I began to focus more on my studies."
In the spring of his freshman year, Peek fathered a son, Jacquez Maurice Peek, who was born in January of 2000. Named after his cousin who had passed away, Jacquez Peek forced Antwan Peek to reassess his priorities.
"The birth of my son forced me to realize that I am no longer looking to take care of myself, I have to take care of another human being. Now I take my education a lot more seriously because I want my son to have the best."
With the help of his athletic academic advisor, Julie McLaughlin, Peek began performing better in the classroom. His hard work was evident last fall when he posted a personal-best 2.8 grade point average and he is doing even better during spring quarter. He is on target to graduate in two years with a degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology.
Peek's best academic quarter came while he started as a defensive end on the UC football team that posted a 7-5 record and appeared in the Motor City Bowl. At the end of the regular season, Peek played as a reserve on the Bearcat basketball team, doing so until being sidelined following minor knee surgery in January, 2001.
"I believe that Antwan has reached a point in his life where he realizes that there are three things that are important to him, his son, academics and football, and he wants to be good at all of them," McLaughlin wrote in a letter nominating Peek for the award.
In addition to his increased focus in the classroom, Peek has also dedicated himself to passing along his story to others being raised with similar challenges.
He has volunteered his time addressing youth athletes about the importance of education at banquets, visited area youth hospitals, and became more active in church organizations. He helped to conduct a basketball clinic at Washington Local school, using the opportunity to teach the children that despite coming from an underprivileged background, it was possible to succeed.
"Obviously someday I would like to play in the NFL," Peek said. "However, if things do not work out for me (or when I am done with my football career), I would like to use my degree in Criminal Justice to help underprivileged youth."
Doug Bruno (DePaul '73)