Peter Rose, a star high school quarterback and recent Virginia Tech signee from Amherst County, is facing felony drug charges after being busted in an undercover police investigation.

Rose sold marijuana to a deputy posing as a high school student, according to the Amherst County Sheriff's office. He was arrested Friday morning along with six other current and former students.

The arrests were the culmination of a 10-month investigation. Rose, 18, was being processed at the Amherst County Jail. He faces two charges of distribution of marijuana -- a misdemeanor -- and two felony charges of distribution of drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.

Rose accepted a football scholarship to Virginia Tech in February, after leading Amherst County to a Group AA championship. He threw for 1,133 yards, rushed for 1,790 yards and accounted for 40 touchdowns -- earning him state player of the year honors.

Rated No. 16 in Virginia's Top 25 recruits for 2008 by The Roanoke Times, Rose projected as a defensive back for the Hokies.

Tech assistant coach Bryan Stinespring, who recruited Rose, was reached Friday afternoon by phone but declined to comment. Head coach Frank Beamer's secretary said he was out of the office today but likely would not have any comment on the situation.

Before his arrest, by all accounts, Rose had been the model student and player. He had been voted Mr. Amherst County and was the school's prom king. He carried roughly a 3.0 grade-point average.

In naming Rose its player of the week in December last season, television station WDBJ-7 in Roanoke said the senior "might be the perfect kid."

"This morning's news was as much a shock to me as anybody," said Rose's former coach, Scott Abell, who recently left to become Washington and Lee University's offensive coordinator. "In my dealings and workings with Peter, he's always been a kid of high character ... never been one day's trouble."

Abell said many people will continue to support Rose and his family, but the coach wasn't sure what impact Rose's arrest will have on his standing at Virginia Tech.

Doug Doughty contributed to this report.