Patrick Peterson is not lacking for confidence. In a radio interview with XTRA 910 am in Phoenix after being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Peterson was asked if he sees himself as a cover corner or a shutdown guy. "I consider myself as a shutdown corner, a guy that looks to take your No. 1 receiver away," Peterson said.
The 20-year-old from Fort Lauderdale, FL is related to several NFL Players, including former Cardinal Bryant McFadden and is cousin is wide receiver Santana Moss from the Redskins. Peterson's younger brother, Avery Johnson, is a wide receiver who's committed to follow his brother to LSU in 2012.
Peterson played running back as well as defensive back in high school and was rated as a top-five prospect going into college. According to his wikipedia page, Peterson recorded 733 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns (9 rushing, one kick return and one punt return) as a high school senior and defensively, had 21 tackles and five interceptions.
Some of that offensive blood still runs inside the talented defensive player and comes out as he talks about wanting to return kicks and punts at the NFL level.
"I want to come here and contribute bigtime as a punt returner or even at the kickoff return as well, because I don't want to just take the ball away from the opposing offense, I want to put my offense in good position as well, because that's what wins ball games...Because me being an offensive guy coming out of high school, I just love being in the end zone. That feeling is just remarkable."
A transcript of the radio interview can be found here and the audio version here. Below is Patrick Peterson as he was introduced as a Cardinal at a press conference held in Arizona after the draft.