Legacy Florida Gator Set to Join 2025 Roster originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Florida Gators football program has a history unlike many others. With three national championships and nine conference titles in the 113 years since its inception, Florida has been a powerhouse program for a long time. One key player in the history of the team is former linebacker and current assistant coach Mike Peterson.
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Peterson spent four years as a player under head coach Steve Spurrier from 1995-98, helping the Gators win their first national title in 1996.
Now, his son, Mike Peterson Jr., is set to continue the legacy of the Peterson name at Florida as a preferred walk-on in 2025, according to 247Sports’ Zach Goodall.
Florida Gators assistant coach for edge Mike Peterson instructs Florida Gators edge Charles Emanuel III (55) during spring football practice at Heavener Football Complex at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]© Matt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Peterson has not officially been listed on Florida’s roster, but he was a participant in the third day of the Gators’ fall camp on Friday.
He is a wide receiver who attended Fort White High School in the Gainesville, Florida, area. Peterson signed with the Arkansas State Red Wolves as a 2025 three-star signee but entered the NCAA transfer portal this summer.
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The 6-foot-2 wideout was ranked in the top-200 players in the state and was the No. 59 athlete in the country in the 2025 class, per Rivals’ Industry Ranking. He caught 24 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns in his senior year at Fort White, according to MaxPreps.
The elder Peterson served as a team captain at Florida during his senior year in 1998, earning First-Team All-SEC and All-America honors. He was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011. Peterson is now entering his fourth season as an assistant, coaching the edge rusher position on head coach Billy Napier’s staff.
If Peterson Jr. can carry on the family name by helping the Gators in any way this season, there’s no doubt his father and all Florida fans would be proud.
Related: Florida Star Running Back’s Versatility Honored Ahead of 2025 Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
