The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Petersen has haunted opponents all season as evidenced by him arriving in the state semifinals with 11.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and 38 solo stops. Petersen has two brothers playing at Iowa State, and he shows the athleticism and motor to help on the next level as well.

A two-sport, two-way North Scott 6′, 210 lber. AJ Petersen AJ Petersen 6'1" | 195 lbs | DL North Scott | 2023 State IA brings a strong wrestling background to the table and has been on P5 and heavyweight FCS program’s radars since he became an upperclassman and saw things come to a head in an October 30th PWO offer from the busy Iowa State Cyclones. Before that, WIAC big boy UW-Platteville was his lone college offer, a surprising fact given his All-American wrestling honors at 195 pounds and his family lineage of his father, uncle, and two older brothers all playing D1 football. There are a lot of makings of a potential P5 contributor on his resume, and his regular season tape shows off an undersized but powerful DE with a good get-off, good pad level and an understanding of leverage, and a ton of force at the point of contact when he meets QBs and RBs in the backfield. His powerful lower body helps him eat cut block attempts and he’s strong enough in his chest and back to long arm and run OTs backward and easily shed them once the time comes. He’s a noticeably well-built 210 lbs. with a neck guard as well, so extra points in the swag and intimidation departments. Great move by the Cyclones.