Honors & Awards
- Drafted by the Carolina Panthers (1998 - 1st Round, Pick #14)
- Member of Three Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995, 1997)
- University of Nebraska Graduate (December, 1997)
- All-American (AP, FWAA, Walter Camp, Sporting News, 1997)
- Outland Trophy Finalist (1997)
- Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player-of-the-Year Finalist (1997)
- Football News Defensive Player-of-the-Year Semifinalist (1997)
- Team Co-Captain (1997)
- Two-Time First-Team All-Big 12 (1996, 1997)
- Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (1995)
Career
An inspirational leader for the Nebraska team during his four seasons, Jason Peter finished his career as a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection and by earning consensus first-team All-America honors in 1997 and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy. He stared every game in his final three seasons (47 contests). During Peter’s career, the Huskers were 49-2, with three national titles and four bowl victories.
Peter was drafted with the 14th pick in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He would go on to play four years for the organization. Peter would finish his NFL career appearing in 38 games (starting 20), recording 83 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
1997 (Senior)
Peter, a team co-captain, ranked third on the team in total tackles with 60 (22 solo), third with seven sacks and second behind Wistrom in tackles for losses with 15, as the Huskers finished the season ranked fifth in the nation in total defense. In the 1998 Orange Bowl against Tennessee, Peter recorded seven tackles (six solo).
1996 (Junior)
He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors starting every game at defensive tackle. He recorded 58 tackles (forth best on the team), including four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, 17 quarterback hurries with three interceptions caused. In Nebraska’s 41-21 win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Peter returned a fumble 31 yards for a touchdown.
1995 (Sophomore)
As a first year starter in 1995, he paired with his older brother, Christian, starting side-by-side in every game. Jason finished with 30 tackles (10 solo), including five for 13 yards lost, one forced fumble, one breakup and seven quarterback hurries. Playing in the Fiesta Bowl against Florida, Jason recorded three tackles (one solo).
1994 (Redshirt Freshman)
Peter played in seven games, and the 1995 Orange Bowl against Miami. He recorded eight tackles (two solo) on the season and none in the bowl game.
1993 (Freshman)
A scholarship athlete, Peter redshirted his first year in Lincoln.
Before Nebraska (Milford Academy)
Peter attended Middletown South his first three years, then went to Milford Academy in Milford, Conn., a prep school that annually produces a number of Division I recruits. He played defensive and offensive tackle for Milford Academy and was one of the most sought-after linemen in 1993. He was a SuperPrep magazine All-American and considered the top recruit in the Northeast by the same publication (he visited Washington, Syracuse, Georgia Tech and Miami). In 1993 for Milford, he recorded 116 tackles (29 solo), had nine sacks and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. He was team captain, earned All-American honors and was rated as the nation’s 10th-best lineman as Milford won a school-record nine games in 1992 despite playing Division I college junior-varsity squads such as Army and Navy, and saw 23 of its players sign letters of intent in 1993. As a junior, Peter was an all-state defensive tackle for Coach Bob Generelli at Middletown South, the school he attended in 1989-91 and had 110 tackles (30 solo), eight sacks and five breakups, leading his team to the state title in 1990.
Personal
The son of Hubert and Mary Peter, Jason was born on Sept. 13, 1974. He has an older brother Christian who was the Huskers’ starting defensive tackle in 1994 and 1995 and played for the New York Giants. Although Jason attended Middletown South his first three years, he graduated from Milford Academy in Milford, Conn. His younger brother Damian attended Nebraska, after a neck injury ended his football career before it even began at Notre Dame. Jason also has a sister, Ashley. Jason majored in communication studies and earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska on December 20, 1997. He served as a volunteer speaker for the SPICE Program; at the Lincoln Veteran’s Hospital; at St. Elizabeth’s Burn Unit; at the People City Mission and at Lincoln Youth Church Groups in 1995.
Peter's Career Statistics
| . | . | Tackles | . | . | Fum. | . | . | . | QB | Int. | ||
| Year | G/S | UT | AT | TT | TFL | Sacks | C-R | BK | PBU | PI | Hry. | Csd. |
| 1993 | Redshirted | |||||||||||
| 1994 | 7/0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 11/11 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 5-13 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 1996 | 12/12 | 17 | 41 | 58 | 10-41 | 4-28 | 1-0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| 1997 | 12/12 | 22 | 38 | 60 | 15-61 | 7-40 | 2-0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Totals | 42/35 | 51 | 105 | 156 | 31-118 | 11-68 | 4-0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 48 | 5 |
1995 Orange Bowl vs. Miami: Tackles, None
1996 Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida: Tackles 1 UT, 2 AT, 3 TT
1996 Orange Bowl vs. Virginia Tech: Tackles 2 UT, 1 AT, 3 TT; TFL 1-4.5; Sacks 0.5-4.5; QB Hurries 2;
Fumble Recovery 1-31 yards, TD
1998 Orange Bowl vs. Tennessee: 6 UT, 1 AT, 7 TT