Marcus Peters both intrigues and terrifies NFL scouts.
The University of Washington product is considered by some to be the best cornerback prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft, but Peters also is a walking red flag after a messy end to his college career.
Despite first-round talent, Peters is thought to have been removed entirely from some draft boards already because of reports that, among his many transgressions, Peters choked a Huskies assistant coach last season before being kicked off the team in November.
Peters denied the choking allegation at the scouting combine in February, telling reporters it was “false.” But power-conference programs don’t usually expel one of the top players in the country for minor offenses.
As a result, only Jameis Winston’s personality and background are getting more scrutiny from NFL teams than Peters’ this offseason. And Peters is arguably the most polarizing player in this year’s entire crop.
Getty Images“He’s the best pure cover corner in the draft,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said recently. “He has a great ball skills and is a natural play-maker. If you can live with his behavioral issues, that is.”
Those issues are legion. As well as failing a drug test in 2011, Peters was suspended in 2013 for academic problems, banned from working out by Washington coaches in the 2014 offseason, suspended for a game last year for head-butting an opponent and throwing a sideline tantrum, suspended again for being late to team meetings and finally kicked off the team by coach Chris Petersen after missing a practice.
What makes Peters’ off-field problems surprising is that he is the son of a high school football coach in his native Oakland, Calif. Having to go back to his dad and explain himself following the November dismissal was the start of what Peters describes as a personal turnaround project.
“I live and I learn from it, you know?” Peters told reporters at the combine. “There are going to be things that aren’t going to go right, but I went through one of the worst things that could happen to me in life. I got kicked off my team, I wasn’t able to finish out my college career with my teammates. I own up to that and man up to that, and I just move forward.’’
Peters’ plan is more than just talk. He went to Petersen after the season and apologized for his actions, and their reconciliation resulted in the coach allowing Peters to participate in Washington’s pro day two weeks ago.
Peters now says his problems of “miscommunication, mostly on my behalf” stemmed from his displeasure at former Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian bolting for USC last year and being replaced by Petersen, who is considered more of a disciplinarian.
“I didn’t take the coaching transition too well,” Peters said at the combine. “I made some immature decisions at the University of Washington, and it hurt me truly. So I’ve just got to learn from my mistakes and grow from it.”
Whether NFL teams are willing to accept that Peters is a changed man remains to be seen. But it probably is safe to think several of them have, considering how good of a player Peters is and the fact he plays what, in a passing league, has become one of the game’s most important (and hard-to-fill) positions.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Peters has prototype size, good speed (he ran a 4.5-second 40 yard dash at the combine) and excels in press coverage. The past two years, he allowed just 38.1 percent of the passes against him to be completed while breaking up 24 and recording eight interceptions.
“I never figured I lost my chance [after being kicked off the team],” Peters said at the combine. “There are a lot of people that make mistakes, and I am blessed to have a second chance to go to the combine. I go in these [team] interviews and accept responsibility for what happened and I just take full ownership of it.’’
Whether they believe Peters enough to draft him in a round worthy of his talent will be known shortly.
Rating the Prospects
Post NFL writer Bart Hubbuch ranks the top inside linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties in the April 30-May 2 draft:
Inside Linebackers
No. Name School Ht. Wt.
1. Eric Kendricks UCLA 6-0 230
Reigning winner of the Butkus Award is a durable tackling machine.
2. Denzel Perryman Miami(Fla.) 5-11 235
Not the most athletic guy, but is smart, reliable and a big-time hitter.
3. Stephone Anthony Clemson 6-3 245
Terrific athlete who had the combine’s best 40-yard and shuttle times by a linebacker.
4. Bernardrick McKinney* Mississippi State 6-4 245
Extremely productive player led his team in tackles each of his last two years.
5. Kwon Alexander* LSU 6-1 225
Versatile (he played all three 4-3 linebacker spots in college) with excellent range.
*underclassman
Late Riser
Ben Heeney, Kansas: Outstanding combine and offseason workouts turned heads and will keep him from being overlooked due to the program’s doldrums.
Dropping Fast
Paul Dawson, TCU: An absymal combine (4.93 in the 40-yard dash) and whispers about character concerns have sent his stock plummeting.
Small School Wonder
Davis Tull, Tennessee-Chattanooga: Three-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year probably will have to convert to inside linebacker in the NFL.
Cornerbacks
No. Name School Ht. Wt.
1. Trae Waynes Michigan State 6-1 185
Insanely athletic prospect (a 4.31 combine 40) also is smothering in coverage.
2. Marcus Peters* Washington 6-0 195
Has shutdown-corner ability, but the character concerns are massive.
3. Kevin Johnson Wake Forest 6-0 190
Lacks prototype size or speed but is smart and excels in man coverage.
4. Byron Jones UConn 6-1 200
Plays much more physical than his size and has experience at both safety and corner.
5. P.J. Williams* Florida State 6-0 195
Excellent combine and offseason workouts could be outweighed by his recent DUI.
*underclassman
Late Riser
Ronald Darby, Florida State: Though he didn’t exactly fly under the radar in college, a terrific combine (a 4.38 40 and 41 1/2-inch vertical) turned many heads.
Dropping Fast
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon: Many had him as the top cornerback prospect before the season, but he hasn’t asserted himself since then.
Small School Wonder
Tray Walker, Texas Southern: Tall (6-foot-2) with long arms who looks comfortable in press coverage and is likely to get drafted.
Safeties
No. Name School Ht. Wt.
1. Landon Collins Alabama 6-0 230
Big hitter with range who led the Tide in tackles and interceptions last season.
2. Damarious Randall Arizona State 5-11 195
Excellent speed for the position, but lacks height and will need to add weight.
3. Anthony Harris Virginia 6-1 185
Set a school record in 2013 by recording an interception in five consecutive games.
4. Derron Smith Fresno State 5-10 200
Undersized for the position but can do it all, including line up and cover.
5. James Sample* Louisville 6-2 210
Prototypical box safety with size and a willingness to hit, although inexperienced.
*underclassman
Late Riser
Eric Rowe, Utah: Cornerback in college but projects as a pro safety because scouts like his size but not his cover skills.
Dropping Fast
Chris Hackett, TCU: How does a productive, 195-pound safety run a 4.81 40? That was Hackett at the combine, and he’s sinking because of it.
Small School Wonder
Jaquiski Tartt, Samford: Perennial FCS All-American has excellent size and skills and should be a second-day pick.
