Cornerback’s past will cost him NFL Draft position
Marcus Peters blames his dismissal at Washington on a number of unexpected things happening in a short-period of time. That included a coaching change and his longtime girlfriend delivering the couple’s first child.
The cornerback, though, has apologized. He even recently made amends with Huskies coach Chris Petersen.
“I made some immature decisions at the University of Washington, and it hurt me truly,” Peters said. “So I’ve just got to learn from my mistakes, and I grow from it.”
Peters ranks as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, but his red flags will prevent him from being drafted as high as he might have been otherwise. The Dallas Cowboys, who draft 27th are among the favorites to land Peters after using one of their 30 national visits on him.
Peters insists he has changed.
“It humbled me a real lot,” he said. “And what really has humbled me is me having a child [6-month-old Carson]. … Now I have to be able to provide for someone other than myself. I have someone that is looking up to me a lot, so I have to be 100 percent mature.”
Peters’ transgressions at UW reportedly include a failed test for marijuana, a suspension for academic problems, a suspension for head-butting an opponent, a sideline tantrum and tardiness. Petersen dismissed Peters on Nov. 5.
But Peters denies any physical confrontations with coaches. Peters explains his problems last season as “miscommunication” with the new coaching staff.
His teammates, though, continue to support him.
“He’s a great teammate,” said linebacker Shaq Thompson, Peters’ former roommate and a top draft prospect. “I played with him for three years. Comes to practice every day, hard-working. He doesn’t say much. All he does is compete and work his butt off.”
Peters’ talent is not in question. In 34 career games, he broke up 35 passes and made 11 interceptions.
“I bring a shutdown mentality to the game,” said Peters, the son of a high school coach. “I’m a ballhawk. I’m a team player.”
The week he was dismissed, Peters relayed the defensive assignments to his younger teammates after they asked.
“I prided myself on being able to know all the assignments in the secondary when I was there at the University of Washington, and they just wanted some insight on that,” Peters said. “... When someone needs help, I’m always there to help.”
Charean Williams, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Cornerback’s past will cost him NFL Draft position."