MSU recruit: No contest to lesser charge 

QB's fate now rests with judge, admissions office 

BY JEMELE HILL
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Michigan State football recruit Damon Dowdell pleaded no contest Tuesday in Wayne County Juvenile Court in a case involving the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl.

The plea, to a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery, might allow Dowdell to gain admission to MSU and play football there.

Dowdell, a former star quarterback at Detroit Henry Ford, signed with the Spartans in February, but the university held up his admission until his case was settled. 

Mike Marshall, Dowdell's coach at Henry Ford, said Dowdell still plans to attend MSU. He hopes Dowdell will be registered at the school by Thursday, as classes start next week.

"It took a lot out of him but he's been taught well," Marshall said. "He's had to handle the attention during the (football) season. Now he can go up there (to MSU) and compete and show why we call him the real deal."

Had Dowdell been convicted of a felony, he probably wouldn't be admitted to the school. 

"We are confirming for ourselves whether today's court proceedings indicate closure in this case," MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said. "If so, we will, as we have said, reactivate our admissions review."

Dowdell and Lamar Eddington of Detroit were charged with criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, but pleaded to lesser charges of assault and battery.

Judge Frances Pitts will sentence the two Sept. 29. Cornelius Pitts, Dowdell's attorney, said lawyers for the defendants and the prosecutors believed a no-contest plea was "in the best interests of justice."

Pitts said he was not certain what kind of sentence Dowdell and Eddington would receive, but added: "We are looking for a favorable disposition to enable both defendants to continue with their education."

Charles Grant, the Wayne County assistant prosecutor in the case, could not be reached for comment.

Dowdell's more highly recruited teammate at Henry Ford, tight end Eric Knott, still faces charges for the same incident.

Knott committed to MSU last winter, but the Spartans didn't sign him after learning about the severity of the charges. Knott was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct and is being tried as an adult. 

Contact JEMELE HILL at 313-223-3215 or hill@freepress.com.

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