Three months after his dismissal from the University of Washington football program, Marcus Peters says he has no one to blame but himself.
In fact, Peters told USA Today that if he were UW head coach Chris Petersen, he would’ve kicked himself off the team months earlier following a self-described “hissy fit” during the Huskies’ home opener against Eastern Washington.
“It was an avalanche ready to happen, man. It was going to collapse sooner or later," Peters said in his first interview since his dismissal. “I don’t blame (Petersen) for anything. All I can blame is myself, because I made those decisions and I have to live with them.”
Now, despite his dismissal, Peters, who had 11 interceptions in parts of three seasons, is considered to be one of the top cornerback prospects in the upcoming NFL draft. He knows he’ll have to face tough questions head-on at next week’s NFL combine.
“I’ll have to man up and I’ve got to answer these questions in interviews and all I can do is sit there and answer truthfully and honestly,” Peters said.
Peters was blunt about a variety of misdeeds that ultimately culminated in his dismissal. He admitted to failing a drug test for marijuana during his redshirt season, but had no other disciplinary issues under former coach Steve Sarkisian. When Sarkisian left for USC, Peters said it was “heartbreaking.”
When Petersen and his staff came in from Boise State, Peters said he wasn’t ready to take on a leadership role like Petersen hoped. He also said other pressures, including his longtime girlfriend’s pregnancy and hype around his draft projections, affected him.
“I was just immature with it,” Peters said. “My name’s getting talked about. A lot more people know who I am. I’m dealing with a lot of family, friends back home. I just didn’t take it right. I got big-headed with it. I didn’t focus and didn’t see it clearly of how I can do things, and it caused me to bump my head.”
On Sept. 6 against Eastern Washington, Peters said he “embarrassed the whole University of Washington program” when he was penalized for head-butting an EWU receiver and then threw his helmet and gloves to the ground when coaches tried to calm him down.
Petersen suspended Peters for the following week’s game, but gave him another chance to turn things around. Ultimately, however, Peters was dismissed on Nov. 5.
When confirming Peters' dismissal, Petersen told reporters that "it's never one thing."
"We’re not going to dismiss a guy because it’s one thing,” Petersen said. “That’s not what we’re in this business (to be) about. But when you feel like it just can’t work, you gotta do what you’ve gotta do.”
Peters, a native of Oakland, Calif., said he was in Seattle last week to pay a $124 fine for driving with a suspended license and stopped by the school to see Petersen, who has permitted him to participate in UW’s pro day on April 2.
"I apologized to him once again, and I told him that I appreciate him even working with me," Peters said. "They were working with me a lot, and I just – I didn't get it. I didn't see it in front of me that they were trying to help me out.
"To be honest, I would tell you today: Why wouldn't you kick me off the team? He was trying to help me. He was teaching me some hard lessons at that time, and I just didn't take it right."
The talent is there for Peters. One NFL GM told USA Today that, based on his film, Peters is "probably the top corner in this draft." Now, with the combine approaching, Peters has the chance to prove that he's worthy of a top pick character-wise.
"It's me closing a door behind me and opening up a new one."
For more Washington news, visit TheDawgReport.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
