The Locker Room July 5, 2010

Sometimes things don't work out the way you expect them too.  In the end, however, they always seem to find a way to work out.  One former Cougar standout had to face that situation, and it would seem that things are finally starting to come together. 

In February, I was fortunate enough to attend a ceremony in which former Pulaski County linebacker Tahrick Peak signed the scholarship paperwork to join his brother Nubian at Virginia Tech.  It was an exciting time and both he and his family were justifiably excited about things.  Then came the bad news, when he was informed that his SAT score wasn't high enough to meet the standards for admission at Virginia Tech.  His score did qualify him by NCAA standards, but each school sets their own standards for admission.  Peak had missed the mark by a mere thirty points. 

After hearing of his situation, Peak began to make plans to move ahead.  At first, he began to make plans to spend a year at Hargrave Military Academy in an effort to raise his SAT score and then continue on his path towards Virginia Tech.  Several former Cougars have taken that route, and it has been a solid plan based on the results.  Ernie Hodge came out of his high school career looking for a division one school, but the offers he wanted weren't there.  After his Hargrave year, he ended up at Ohio University, where he has done well.  Brandon Anderson used his time at Hargrave to find a home at Akron University, and now he is a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Recently, Brandon Hazzard decided to take a chance at Hargrave as well, and now he will be a member of the Kent State University football program. 

While Peak will never stand in the ranks at Hargrave now, the connections he made while visiting there did serve him well.  Robert Prunty, a former assistant coach at Hargrave who has since moved on to an assistant job at Texas Tech, saw Peak and realized what he could offer Texas Tech.   Talks began when Peak reopened his recruitment, and on Saturday the scholarship paperwork was signed making it official. 

Peak, who finished his Cougar career as one of the programs leading tacklers, credited his relationship with Coach Prunty as one of the main reasons for his decision to go with Texas Tech.  He was originally offered scholarships from Virginia Tech, Marshall, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

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