Wide receiver Colbie Young reaches plea, opening door to return to play for Georgia football

Posted by author January 29, 2025 Football

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Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young reached a plea deal with the Solicitor’s Office in Athens-Clarke County on Wednesday in regards to his domestic violence case involving a former girlfriend. Young’s attorney thinks the deal should allow him to return to playing for Georgia football this coming season.

Young plead no contest to disorderly conduct, Young’s attorney Kim Stephens told the Athens Banner-Herald.

A misdemeanor charge of simple battery was amended to the disorderly conduct and a charge of misdemeanor assault on an unborn child were dismissed, Stephens said.

Young received 12 months of probation, a $500 fine and must complete a family violence intervention program. When that program is complete after 24 weeks, the probation will terminate, Stephens said.

Young was suspended from the team after his Oct. 8 arrest but resumed team activities late in the regular season, though he remained held out of games.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart was asked before the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans about the Miami transfer being able to play again for Georgia.

“Yeah, Colbie and I have had those discussions,” Smart said. “I think only time will tell on that. I’d rather keep those conversations kind of between he and I, because he has a lot of things going on.”

It’s still unclear when or if Young will be cleared to be able to play again for Georgia. The school declined to comment after the plea deal.

Young had a court date scheduled for Feb. 17 after Stephens asked for a speedy trial.

The female accuser told police, according to an incident report, she sustained a “bruise and discoloration on the bottom of her chest and redness on her right plank,” after Young grabbed her from behind and “picked her up and began to squeeze her torso and abdomen very hard,” after an argument.

The accuser later recanted in an affidavit what she told police on the night of the incident.

“I’m glad that Colbie can finally move forward in his life,” Stephens said. “That’s what he and the accuser of the case both wanted for several months now. I’m happy that that will happen. I think the Solictor’s Office worked diligently to reach a resolution that they thought appropriate for the case. The reality is I feel the case should have been dismissed but I understand the Solicitor’s position and don’t think it is unreasonable.”

Asked about Young returning to play for Georgia, Stephens said: “I would expect that to happen. Young people are arrested for disorderly conduct downtown every weekend. I’ve never known a student to be suspended for the length of time Colbie already has been suspended and not allowed to play for a disorderly conduct.”

Young had 11 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns in five games this past season.