The first time Trevor Peterson navigated his way through the football recruiting process, he passed on an Ivy League education.

After spending the 2009 season as a redshirt at Boise State, Peterson was determined not to make the same mistake twice.

Peterson was recently accepted at Yale and could help the Bulldogs fill the void left by 2009 team MVP John Sheffield and A.J. Haase.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Peterson, who was rated nationally among the top tight ends by both ESPN and scout.com coming out of El Dorado High in Placerville, Calif., will have four years of eligibility when he arrives at Yale in the summer.

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“I wanted more of an academic environment,” said Peterson, who caught 54 passes for 964 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior at El Dorado. “Coming out of high school, I passed up some Ivy League opportunities, so I really regretted doing that. I couldn’t see myself staying at Boise all five years.”

Peterson visited Yale in January and connected, not only with the Yale coaches, but his soon-to-be Yale teammates.

“The coaching staff, they have a lot of enthusiasm, and they have a definite plan of where the program is headed,” said Peterson, who is considering majoring in either literature or political science. “There is a big focus on competition day in and day out, and that fosters success. The players, I appreciated that they were very involved in their academics, but they were down to earth at the same time. They mix their sports and school so well.

“The coaches said it is a young team that is developing, and I think they are really excited about the recruiting class they have coming in this year. I’d like to contribute to the team right away and be successful individually and as a team.”

Peterson is not the only transfer joining the Bulldogs.

Punter Greg Carlsen, who attended Florida but did not play football for the Gators, has also been accepted at Yale.

Carlsen, a 6-foot, 185-pound graduate of Boone High in Orlando, Fla., actually made contact with the Yale baseball staff before he reached out to football coach Tom Williams.

Yale baseball coach John Stuper told Carlsen, who played for Florida’s club baseball team, that the Bulldogs prefer transfers with four years of eligibility instead of the three Carlsen said he will have. But Stuper encouraged Carlsen to get in touch with the football staff.

Carlsen followed through, and with the graduation of record-breaking punter Tom Mante, Carlsen figures to compete with Alex Barnes and Philippe Panico for the starting job.

“I’m very excited,” Carlsen said. “I contacted them, and they said they needed a punter. I was there in January and spoke with coach Williams and (special teams) coach (Rod) Plummer. I think it’s a great opportunity.”

Carlsen, who is considering a major in biomedical engineering, said he has not contacted Stuper, but was encouraged to do so if he were accepted. He will attempt to play two sports at Yale.

Boise State’s Peterson ready to suit up for Yale
By Jim Fuller, The New Haven Register
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/04/10/sports/yyale_transfers041010041010.txt