Marcus Dowtin to transfer

ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia junior inside linebacker Marcus Dowtin is not expected back with the Bulldogs next season.

Dowtin has been granted an unconditional release to transfer to another institution, UGA said Tuesday, a move that likely ends Dowtin’s playing career after three seasons with the Bulldogs.

Attempts to reach Dowtin were unsuccessful.

A Virginia native who now cites Upper Marlboro, Md., as his hometown, Dowtin played in 35 games during his career, starting six and totaling 131 tackles and 3.5 sacks. His 57 tackles in 2010 tied Justin Houston for third-best on Georgia’s team through the regular season.

Dowtin, however, did not play in the Liberty Bowl for in-house reasons (though he did make the trip with the team). That odd occurrence was followed by word getting out about an assault charge Dowtin picked up the previous summer in Maryland, prompting rumors that he may not be long for UGA’s football program.

The second-degree assault charge against Dowtin was resolved prior to a Dec. 21 court hearing in Maryland.

Dowtin, 21, was charged -- but never arrested -- as a result of a group altercation at Seacrets, an Ocean City, Md., resort bar, on the night of May 29 that left one man hospitalized, according to Ocean City Police.

The police account of the incident stated that Jonathan David Shepherd was unconscious and "bleeding from the face ... (and) right ear," as a result of being struck by a man police later determined -- through viewing security footage -- to have been Dowtin.

Dowtin was questioned by police at the scene and “denied meaning to hit anyone, and stated that he was trying to get his friends out of the fight.” Dowtin was not arrested at the scene, though a summons for the assault charge was issued in Worcester County, Md., on June 22, 2010, according to court records.

According to UGA, Coach Mark Richt was only made aware of Dowtin’s charge well after the fact.

Dowtin joins junior safety/linebacker Nick Williams as defensive players who've recently asked for a release to transfer to another school.

Like Williams, Dowtin has not used a redshirt year, meaning he can sit out next season at another FBS institution and have one year of remaining eligiblity.