UCLA Will Face Young Secondary After Washington Dismisses Peters
SEATTLE (AP) — Of all the pro prospects playing for Washington, cornerback Marcus Peters seemed to have the most NFL potential.
Now when Peters gets scrutinized by NFL teams, he'll have to explain why he was kicked off the Huskies' roster with four games left in the regular season.
Peters was dismissed by Washington coach Chris Petersen on Thursday, two days before the Huskies face No. 18 UCLA. It was the conclusion to an eventful season for Peters, who has the talent to be a potential first-round pick in the NFL draft, but had continued run-ins with Petersen and the Huskies' new coaching staff.
"It's unfortunate, but we've got certain standards and operating procedures," Petersen said after the Huskies concluded practice on Thursday morning. "We're trying to do something special here. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. Like I said, we wish him the best. It's always a hard thing — worst part of the job, without question. And with all that being said, that's really it. That's it in a nutshell. I know everybody wants the details and other things — we don't go there; we can't go there. But like I said, we wish him the best, and it's hard and painful."
Peters was the only upperclassman starter in Washington's young secondary, which will now have two true freshmen starting at cornerback Saturday against the Bruins.
Peters' dismissal was first reported by The Seattle Times and KJR-AM.
Peters is considered a top NFL prospect because of his size — 6-foot, 190 pounds — and his coverage ability. But he seemed to run afoul of the Huskies' new staff. Peters was suspended for Washington's win over Illinois because of a sideline outburst the previous week. Peters also did not start against Stanford, but was in on Washington's second defensive series.
Peters was told of his dismissal on Wednesday night. The school said it would continue to provide Peters' scholarship through the completion of his education.
With Peters gone, Washington will start freshmen Sidney Jones and Naijiel Hale at cornerback against the Bruins with freshman Budda Baker and sophomore Kevin King at safeties. Washington has been experimenting with wide receiver John Ross at cornerback.
"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've got to do what you've got to do."
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