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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.- Marcus Peters described his dismissal from the University of Washington football team as "one of the worst things that could happen" to him in life.
Peters, 22, was removed from UW's program this past November. He said he didn't see eye-to-eye with the school's new coaching staff headed by Chris Petersen, who left Boise State to take over the club this past season after Steve Sarkisian headed south for USC.
It was a situation the NFL hopeful was pressed about when he met with reporters on Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
"Miscommunication, mostly on my behalf," Peters explained of what led to his discharge. "I didn't take the coaching transition too well."
The 6-foot, 198-pound cornerback is a potential first-round talent in this year's draft class that NFL Media draft guru Mike Mayock has called a "top 20 player" based on his on-field efforts alone. But with November's incident still fresh, it's his off-field character that's been the center of attention at the combine this week.
"I got kicked off my team," Peters said. "I wasn't able to finish out my college career with my teammates. I own up to that and I man up to that and I move forward."
It was a discomforting feeling for Peters, who said he used his time away from Montlake to spend time with his family in Oakland, Calif.
"I went back home and I had some time to just enjoy my family," said Peters, a close friend of Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who Peters considers a mentor, a "great Oakland citizen," and whose youth camp Peters attended years ago. "During the season I had a son and I went back home and I just enjoyed my time with my son."
Peters said caring for his newborn has helped him grow in the time since his exit from UW.
"Me bringing a child into this world has really humbled me a lot because now I have to be able to provide for someone other than myself," he said. "I have someone that's looking up to me a lot, so I have to be 100 percent mature."
During a recent trip to the Seattle-area, Peters said he reconciled with the Huskies' coach Petersen. He'll be taking part in the school's pro day workout on April 2, when League evaluators will receive another up-close and personal-look at 2015 NFL prospects.
"I had a real good conversation with coach Petersen," Peters said. "We sat down and we talked about everything that happened. I sincerely apologized for everything again that has happened that I put he and the team through this past year."
So how is Peters guaranteeing NFL staffs at the combine that they won't be taking a risk if they choose to use a draft pick on him this May?
"I don't guarantee anything," said Peters. "Everyone makes mistakes. All I'll tell them is I have matured from the decisions I made in the past and I'm moving forward."
