SAN DIEGO â€" USD All-America defensive end Jonathan Petersen (Poway, Calif.) received good news from the Carolina Panthers. He has been extended an invitation to their annual rookie minicamp that will be held May 10-13 in North Carolina at the Panthers' practice facility. ,p> "I'm excited for the opportunity to show what I can do and compete at the highest level," stated Jonathan Petersen.

Petersen will join the Panthers' draft picks, as well as undrafted free agents and an additional group of invitees in hopes of working his way onto their 90-man roster in the days that follow.

"He won't be the biggest dog in the fight but he'll fight as hard as any dog there," said head coach Dale Lindsey. "He's already had a big impact by being the FCS leader in sacks and people are going to know that for a long time. His name will be mentioned when the next guy comes along and breaks it, but for now he is the reigning king. He had a great impact on USD football. He was one of the difference makers in us winning four straight conference championships."

This past season Petersen became the first USD football player to earn four different All-America First Team selections. He led the NCAA Division I FCS ranks in both sacks (18) and tackles-for-loss (25.5) and ranked second in forced fumbles (7). With three first half sacks against FCS champion North Dakota State on December 2nd, Petersen became the all-time FCS sack leader with 44. He also leaves USD as the all-time leader in forced fumbles with 17.

The 2017 Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year, Petersen was a two-time unanimous pick to the All-PFL First Team.