Cornerback Marcus Peters dismissed from UW football team

A tumultuous junior season has spelled the end of cornerback Marcus Peters’ career at Washington.

Peters, a three-year starter and second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2013, was dismissed from the team Wednesday night after numerous incidents this season with first-year head coach Chris Petersen and his staff.

“These are not decisions that are taken lightly,” Petersen said in a statement released by UW. “We have high standards for players in our program and they are held accountable when those standards are not met. I wish Marcus the best in the completion of his education and in achieving his football goals.”

The statement noted that Peters’ scholarship will be honored by the school through the completion of his education.

Peters’ time at Montlake has seen marked by controversy just as much as success. He was recently named to NFL.com’s Midseason All-America team thanks to his three interceptions this season, and he accumulated 11 picks in 34 games with the Huskies. But this season in particular has been marred with disagreements with the coaching staff.

The most notable episode was a sideline tantrum he threw after being benched against Eastern Washington for a personal foul, and he was suspended for the next game against Illinois as a result. The latest, according to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, were a pair of arguments with coaches, one during Saturday’s game against Colorado and another during practice Wednesday.

Petersen addressed Peters’ dismissal to the media after practice Thursday morning.

“It’s unfortunate, but you know, we have certain standards and operating procedures and we’re trying to do something special here. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out,” Petersen said. “It’s never one thing. We’re not going to dismiss a guy because it’s one thing … But when you feel like you just can’t work, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”

Peters has been slotted in as a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft – NFLDraftScout.com ranks him as the No. 13 overall prospect – but the Oakland, Calif. native’s draft stock takes a big hit with his dismissal.

Petersen is optimistic about Peters’ NFL future and said he’d “absolutely” help him if he chooses to enter the draft.

“Marcus (has) a lot of skill. I really do hope that he has a really good NFL career, there’s no doubt about that,” Petersen said. “I think he can and we wish him a lot of luck going in that direction.”

Naijel Hale will take over Peters’ starting spot Saturday against No. 18 UCLA, Petersen said, giving Washington three true freshmen in the starting secondary along with strong safety Budda Baker and cornerback Sidney Jones.