Marvin Austin is a talker.

He’s just not in the mood to talk about the past.

In a 20-minute interview this week in Orlando, Fla., that was part dodgeball, Austin refused to discuss agent-funded trips to Miami, any improper gifts he took or his relationships with former UNC assistant coach John Blake or agent Gary Wichard.

Austin did express genuine regret for his role in UNC’s first NCAA investigation since 1961.

“I messed up a great situation,” Austin said. “It was my fault.”

The former North Carolina defensive tackle was in Orlando, preparing to play in Saturday's East-West Shrine Bowl, a second-tier college all-star game, looking to win over pro scouts wondering what a 6-2, 312-pound defensive lineman who hasn’t played a down of football in more than a year can do.

The NCAA’s investigation of the Tar Heels football program started in the second week of July before expanding to include academic misconduct. Entering August as a preseason Top 25 team, UNC ended up losing 14 players for at least one game. UNC dismissed Austin from the program on Oct. 11 and never went through official channels with the NCAA to get him on the field this season.

Austin says he is willing to answer questions from the NFL, and those answers might get leaked to the media in the draft process, but he’s not going to volunteer any information.

“Maybe that’s the way it should be,” Austin said. “I’m not comfortable talking about it. I’m trying to move on and I think we’re at the point where [everybody at UNC] is ready to move on.”

For complete story see Saturday's News & Observer sports section.