Georgia Tech had its sixth and seventh players opt to transfer since the end of the regular season, cornerback Meiko Dotson and wide receiver Harland Howell. Both played their redshirt freshman seasons in 2016.
Dotson, from Daytona Beach, Fla., played in 12 games this season, mostly in a special-teams role. He had two tackles. Howell, from Wheeler High, played in six games, mostly on special teams. Dotson announced his decision Thursday from his Twitter account. Howell’s decision was first reported by Rivals on Thursday and confirmed by a person familiar with the situation.
From his Twitter account, Dotson said that there was “no issue at all with coaches etc. more so about my happiness.” Dotson would have had an opportunity to compete for playing time this spring, although returning cornerbacks Step Durham, Lance and Lawrence Austin and Lamont Simmons are ahead of him.
Howell likewise faced a challenge to get on the field, with returnees Ricky Jeune, Brad Stewart, Jalen Camp and Mikell Lands-Davis ahead of him on the depth chart.
Both Dotson and Howell became the second at their position to transfer since November, following cornerback Dorian Walker and wide receiver Christian Philpott, also redshirt freshmen. There have now been seven altogether. Besides Dotson, Howell, Philpott and Walker, linebacker Emanuel Bridges, B-back Marcus Marshall and defensive lineman Trent Sellers also decided to leave Tech.
Of the seven, only Marshall, who played 22 games in two seasons, started nine and led the team in rushing in 2015, played a significant amount or started a game. Dotson, Howell, Philpott, Sellers and Walker were all redshirt freshmen this season. They played varying amounts, but nearly all of their playing time was on special teams. Bridges redshirted this past season after enrolling early a year ago.
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