Dom Peterson loves football. He loves football so much that when the calendar flips to August, you know it's officially football season by his change in demeanor and energy.

"It's the Gemini in me," he joked.

It's that change in persona that makes Peterson who he is. Off the field you can expect an outgoing and friendly greeting accompanied with a big smile, but on the gridiron something in him changes.

"I just love football. When it comes around this time of the year I'm different, you can see it in my eyes. Some players just told me they don't like when it's football season because I get to yelling more, I'm screaming, I'm mad, I just feel passionate about this game."

That on-the-field passion that Peterson is on display every practice and every game and fits right into the Wolf Pack football motto of 'Nevada Grit.' Adopted by third-year head coach Jay Norvell in his first season, 'Nevada Grit' has become an identity of sorts for the Wolf Pack, and something that Peterson says is hard and rough.

"Nevada grit just means getting it in. I say that with slang, but it's hard, it's rough, it's rugged. When I broke my foot I think I picked up that grit because I was thinking 'I don't want to do this anymore.' Grit is definitely effort and you know that it's going to be hard, but that's grit, you have to figure out if this is what you want to do."

It was when Peterson broke his foot in spring ball of 2018 that something changed for him mentally in regards to his outlook on football. He had just finished redshirting during his true freshman season in 2017 and was looking to make a name for himself that spring. After being sidelined though with a broken foot, he had a realization that maybe his outlook was a little too selfish.

"I realized I was doing too much 'I' and needed to focus more on the team. I started cheering for the D-line more and cheering for my guys more when I was on the sideline. I had so much mental time to get myself together. As soon as I came back I was ready to go, I was fired up. Everybody was tired from spring ball but I was ready to go!"

Peterson used that new found energy to post a breakout campaign in 2018. The Harbor City, Calif. native notched 44 tackles, with more than half being solo, 3.0 sacks, and perhaps most impressive, 10.5 tackles for loss in his first season seeing game action. With a breakout season like that, and the departure of big names like Malik Reed and Korey Rush on the defense, Peterson has adopted a new leadership role.

"Last year I was just kind of following, I had Hausia (Sekona) and Korey to look over me and help me out. Now to be that guy where there isn't anyone to look over your shoulder anymore, now I'm the guy to help the young guys. It's definitely a change and has changed my game and impacted the way I watch film, making sure I'm not the one messing up, and making a good example for the younger guys."

One of the reasons that Peterson feels that he is able to take on that leadership role and be that voice for the younger players is because of what Rush taught him last season. Rush, a senior on the defensive line last year and now a graduate assistant on staff, helped Peterson lock in his focus and is part of the reason Peterson changed his jersey number from 51 to 99, Rush's former number.

"He taught me things like not paying attention to the crowd, not to focus on where we're playing. Yes we're playing Vanderbilt, yes we're playing Fresno State, teams you've seen on TV before, but they're the same guys as us. When I first got out there at Vanderbilt I was kind of scared at the fact that this is an SEC team. Korey brought me over and we started joking around on the field, we were dancing and laughing. From there he showed me that it's good to be comfortable, you don't have to be scared."

One of the other reasons for Peterson's change in number is the inspiration he feels from current NFL defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who wears No. 99 for the Los Angeles Rams. He says that Donald's size matches his own build, which he views as being a bit undersized compared to most defensive lineman. Seeing the Pro Bowl level career that Donald is producing gives Peterson hope for his own future. But as an undersized defensive lineman, Peterson says that it's all about the little things.

"It was just simple things, like details with technique, being able to read plays, that made me the guy. You'd be surprised how the little things can get you on the right path and get you doing the right things. I'm not the most athletic, I'm not the tallest, I don't have that football look but here you do the simple things and you can be a big player."

So, as the 2019 season approaches, look out for No. 99 on the field. But, if you see him on the streets, be sure to say hello. You're sure to be greeted back with one of the friendliest smiles you'll see.