USD senior defensive end Jonathan Petersen (Poway, Calif.) joins a group of the best seniors in college football this season who will descend upon the historic Rose Bowl Stadium for this year's NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

The seventh annual postseason all-star game is slated to take place this Saturday, January 20, culminating a week-long experience during which the participants will learn about the business of football. The game, scheduled for 1 p.m. PST/4 p.m. EST kickoff, and will be televised on FS1. The 112-man roster has been split into two groups: the National team, led by Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Martz, and the American team, coached by Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green. Petersen will compete on the American team.

Petersen, the unanimous choice for the 2017 PFL Defensive Player of the Year honor, led the FCS in sacks (18, 1.38 per game) and tackles for loss (25.5, 2.0 per game). He ranked second in the FCS in forced fumbles (7, 0.54). A STATS Buck Buchanan Award Finalist, he finished fourth in voting out of 25 candidates. With his three first half sacks against North Dakota State on December 2nd, he became the all-time FCS leader in sacks with 44.

Petersen received numerous post-season honors: STATS FCS All-America First Team, Associated Press FCS All-America First Team, Walter Camp FCS All-America First Team and AFCA FCS Second Team. For the latest news and updates on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, visit the game's website at Collegiate NFLPA and follow @NFLPABowl on Twitter.

About the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl:
Founded in 2012, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl gives prospective players the best opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers and fans. Nearly 200 scouts, player personnel staff, general managers and head coaches from all 32 NFL teams are expected be in attendance to watch live practices, conduct player interviews and review tape.

About the NFL Players Association:
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players' interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected-including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players, and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through 2020. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.