FIU linebackers Shaun and Reggie Peterson play like family...because they just might be

Outside linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr. and inside linebacker Reggie Peterson – who often line up next to each other on the left side of FIU’s defense – are not related.

Or are they?

“I think we are,” Reggie said. “We both have family up in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. After every home game, our parents try to find out who we’re related to.”

Shaun Peterson Sr. was asked by The Herald if his family and Reggie’s are related.

“I don’t think we’re kin,” he said. “But my grandfather (Major Peterson) was a ‘rolling stone.’ He had children nobody knew about.”

Shaun Peterson Jr., a 6-3, 215-pounder, and Reggie Peterson (6-2, 225) have more in common than their last name, similar size, school and position.

They also have fascinating back stories.

Shaun, a Fort Lauderdale native whose emergence has been chronicled in this space previously, spent his first four years at FIU as a running back. He has quickly taken to linebacker, leading FIU in sacks this year with five.

But while Shaun’s path to linebacker has been circuitous, at least he arrived at FIU with a scholarship.

That wasn’t the case for Reggie, who played for St. Lucie West Centennial High. He had college scholarship offers from Jacksonville and Bucknell, but those evaporated when he broke his right wrist in a game against Vero Beach during his senior year.

On the play, Reggie beat his man and earned a sack. However, his wrist collided with a teammate’s helmet.

Reggie, though, finished the season while playing with the broken wrist.

“I wrapped it up and played the whole game,” Reggie said. “After that, I played with a cast.”

With no scholarship offers, Reggie reached out to DJ McCarthy, who was an FIU assistant coach at the time.

Just 48 hours before the February 2020 National Signing Day, then-FIU coach Butch Davis gave the OK to offer Reggie a spot as a walk-on player.

From there, Reggie worked his way up from sixth string, although he didn’t get on the field at all for the entire 2020 season.

“I did everything they asked me to do in practice,” Reggie said. “I was never late to meetings. I saw myself as a sponge. I was surrounded by older guys, and I sucked up knowledge.

“Whenever (Davis) asked me to draw something on the board, I did it. I would even teach the older guys. (Davis) did a great job seeing what he had in me.”

By 2021, Peterson was put on scholarship, and he competed in all 12 of FIU’s games as a special-teamer.

“I never complained (about being a backup),” Reggie said. “I was always ready to work. One day, the coaches said, ‘Let’s put that guy on punt team.’ I made a play, and (soon) they blessed me and made me special-teams captain.”

Nothing has come easy for Reggie. He had to fight to go from unwanted to walk-on … from never getting on the field to special-teamer … and finally from kick team to a role at linebacker.

A few weeks ago, Reggie talked to Mike MacIntyre, telling the FIU coach that he believes he’s more than just a special-teams player. Reggie also worked FIU defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt.

“I kept telling Coach Dewitt how much I wanted to play,” Reggie said. “I remember the exact words I told him: ‘I’m going to make you trust me enough to put me on that field.’”

Reggie finally got a shot on Nov. 5 against North Texas, and he made a huge play with an interception and a 75-yard return.

Unfortunately, he fumbled at the end of the play, although teammate Adrian Cole scooped up the ball and scored.

“High and tight – that’s what I learned,” Reggie said. “(On that play), I was running. I could hear my teammate saying, ‘You got one behind you!’

“I saw one guy on the left. But little did I know there was another guy who came from out of bounds and punched the ball out.”

However, Reggie managed to bat the ball, allowing for Cole to get the scoop and score.

Then, in FIU’s loss to FAU on Nov. 12, Reggie played just two quarters – the second and the fourth in a time share with Gaethan Bernadel – but Peterson still had a game-high 11 tackles.

“Reggie has played well,” MacIntyre said. “He’s one of the guys we’re counting on to help turn the program around.”

That sounds great to Reggie, who lined up next to Shaun Peterson for large portions of the FAU game.

“When Shaun’s in there, I feel like, ‘OK, we’re good on this side,’” Reggie said. “Shaun is like a big brother to me … or maybe a cousin.”

Pending further proof from their family trees, that’s good enough for us.