Photo: Athens-Clarke County Jail
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Colbie Young was arrested on charges of battery and assault of an unborn child early Tuesday (October 8) morning, according to Athens-Clarke County Jail records.
Young, 22, who remains incarcerated, was booked at 4:18 a.m. local time.
"This is a pending legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time," Georgia athletic department spokesperson Steven Drummond said in a statement to ESPN on Tuesday.
A 20-year-old woman, who described herself as Young's ex-girlfriend, told police that she went to his apartment to discuss their relationship at around midnight, an incident report obtained by ESPN states. The conversation reportedly turned heated when she discovered Young was on the phone with another woman, at which point she claims Young "grabbed her left arm near her biceps and triceps and physically pulled her out of his room."
The woman said Young used "derogatory terms and being demeaning of her" before going back into his room and locking the door. The woman said she attempted to retrieve her belongings when a friend called her phone.
The woman said "Mr. Young came out and grabbed her from behind" after she answered the call before picking her up and "squeezing her torso and abdomen very hard," which felt like Young "was trying to harm her," the incident report states via ESPN. The woman had a bruise and discoloration on the bottom of her chest where it meets the abdomen and redness on her right side, according to an officer who transported her to an Athens hospital for treatment.
Young claimed he escorted the woman to his front door during a contentious argument and denied grabbing the woman while speaking to the officer, claiming he wasn't responsible for the injuries she was observed to have had.
"Colbie Young was arrested last night after he asked his ex-girlfriend to leave his apartment," said Kim Stephens, an attorney representing Young, via ESPN. "He did not make physical contact with her in any way that could ever be considered a crime. I expect Mr. Young to be fully exonerated once our investigation is complete and the truth revealed."
Young transferred to the University of Georgia in December after two seasons at Miami and recorded 11 receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns through his first five games of the 2024 season. The Bulldogs had previously dealt with a similar situation prior to the beginning of the 2024 season.
Fellow wide receiver Rodarius 'Rara' Thomas was dismissed in August after his arrest on multiple family violence charges, with head coach Kirby Smart telling reporters, "He can no longer be part of the football team" following the incident. Thomas was previously arrested for a misdemeanor count of family violence and a felony account of false imprisonment in January 2023, less than a month after enrolling at the University of Georgia, though the charges were dropped as he entered a pretrial diversion program requiring him to complete anger management and community service.