By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Texans coach Dom Capers has a history of turning college rush ends into solid pro linebackers.

Former Woodward High star Antwan Peek, who played defensive end for the University of Cincinnati, is his latest success.

The list includes former Saints Pat Swilling and Renaldo Turnbull, Kevin Green (Pittsburgh and Carolina) and current Steeler Jason Gildon.

"You take a guy that's somewhat of an undersized defensive end in college and you put him as an outside linebacker. Of course we liked his pass rush ability," Capers said of the 230-pound Peek, who finished his UC career with a school-record 27 sacks and 56 tackles for loss.

"He's picking up the system. We think he has a bright future."

Peek, the Texans' third-round draft pick in April, is still listed as second-string on the team's depth chart at right outside linebacker. He has 20 tackles, one sack and four passes broken up.

He has played in six games, with three starts at linebacker. He missed Games 2 and 3 because of a knee strain.

The football career of the Cincinnati native has evolved before the eyes of hometown fans - some 50 family members will be on hand Sunday when Peek and the Texans play the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.

It wasn't too long ago - the 1997 season, to be exact - that Peek was one of just 13 to 15 players on the Woodward High varsity.

As a senior, he never left the field during the Bulldogs' 6-4 season. Peek kicked, returned punts and kickoffs, and played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. Not all at once, obviously. It just seemed that way.

"Us only having only that many players might be the reason I can run around the way I do now," Peek said Thursday from Houston. "I don't have to spend as much energy playing both ways and special teams, so I can conserve energy."

He had a season-high seven tackles Sunday against Carolina.

"Each game, I become more comfortable dropping into coverage and making the open-field tackle, which was a question about me coming out of college," Peek said. "I think I'm doing pretty good."

Peek's special-teams duties have decreased as his defensive time has increased. Still, he and former Bearcats linebacker and Lakota High star Troy Evans sit next to each other in special-teams meetings. Evans, a second-year pro, has four special teams tackles this season.

Texans coaches are aware of the long-time friendship between the two players.

"(Evans) told me, when they were drafting me, that they asked him about me," Peek said. "He said I owe him."

Even as a rookie, Peek appears to be living up to the recommendation.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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