Education
He finished the season with three total tackles.
He finished the season with three total tackles.
He was selected by the Falcons in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Mississippi. Jerry retired from football in 2014 after five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
He was also named first team All-State by The Clarion-Ledger.
Jerry signed with Ole Mission in the 2004 class, but decided to attend Hargrave Military Academy. There, he was rated as the Number.
15 prep school player in the country by Rivals.com. He played in eight games at Hargrave during the 2004 season and was credited with 30 tackles, including five quarterback sacks.
The 2005 season was Jerry"s true freshman season at Ole Mississippi
After missing the first four games due to injury, he played in six of the final seven games. In 2006, Jerry battled through injuries to play in eight games, making six starts along the defensive line. He made starts at end, tackle and nose tackle.
He totaled 22 tackles on the season with 1 tackle for a loss and 1 QB sack.
He moved from tackle to end and promptly emerged as the starter. Jerry was rated an "Emerging Star" at Ole Mission by Lindy’s magazine.
2007 saw Jerry named Second Team All-Securities and Exchange Commission by the Associated Press and Rivals.com. He started all 12 games at defensive tackle and was ranked sixth in the Securities and Exchange Commission in tackles for losses (TFLs) with 14.
He finished second on the team in TFLs, 3 and a half QB sacks, 4 QB hurries and 58 total tackles.
In 2008, Jerry was named to the All-Securities and Exchange Commission First Team by the leagues coaches and to the All-Securities and Exchange Commission First Team by the nation"s news media. Additionally he was named to the Associated Press All-America First Team. 2009 NFL Draft
Drawing comparisons to Vonnie Holliday and Cory Redding, Jerry was commonly ranked as the second-best defensive tackle available in the 2009 NFL Draft, behind only Boston College′s B. J. Raji.
He was drafted in the first round (24th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta Falcons
Jerry was signed to a five-year contract by the Falcons on July 30, 2009. Jerry competed with Trey Lewis to replace Grady Jackson, who was not re-signed by the Falcons, at defensive tackle.
Peria Jerry suffered a major knee injury on September 20, 2009, which caused him to miss the remainder of the 2009 season. In 2010, he came back from injury, and played in all 16 games.
However, he lost his starting job to rookie DT Corey Peters.
On July 31, 2014, Peria Jerry announced his retirement from the NFL. NFL stats
Key
General Practice: games played
COMB: combined tackles
TOTAL: total tackles
Air Service Training: assisted tackles
SACK: sacks
FF: forced fumbles
First Revision: fumble recoveries
First Revision YDS: fumble return yards
INT: interceptions
International Rectifier YDS: interception return yards
AVG International Rectifier : average interception return
Liquefied Natural Gas: longest interception return
Territorial Decoration: interceptions returned for touchdown
Privatdozent : passes defensed
Peria Jerry is the older brother of John Jerry, who currently plays for the New York Giants.