CORVALLIS -- On the same day that Oregon State announced Seth Collins was granted the release he requested from the football team, the junior wide receiver was arraigned Thursday at Benton County Circuit Court on a single charge of fourth-degree assault against a 19-year-old woman.

Collins pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charge, which stemmed from an incident at a party that occurred two months ago and led to his suspension from the football team. The Beavers never announced the suspension publicly.

According to Benton County chief deputy district attorney Ryan Joslin, Collins was not arrested following the incident at a Corvallis apartment complex in the early morning hours of Sunday, Oct. 8. The charging document said that Collins "did unlawfully and recklessly cause physical injury to Makaela Martinez."

Jennifer Nash, the attorney representing Collins, said her client wants the charges dismissed.

"This situation was an accident, if there was any contact at all," Nash said. "My client doesn't remember having any contact with Miss Martinez."

Lt. Dan Duncan of the Corvallis Police Department said Martinez reported the incident at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Duncan said that Martinez had a "swollen and cut" lip, according to the police report, and said that she had been struck in the face.

Nash said Collins did not know Martinez. She said an altercation started at the party due to an unnamed intoxicated male who was "out of control." Nash said Collins was not intoxicated and got involved in the altercation, for which Martinez was a bystander.

"(Collins) was trying to help someone else and this situation happened," Nash said.

A university source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident, said Collins took Martinez's phone as she recorded the incident on video. Martinez is not enrolled at Oregon State, according to the school's online directory.

The incident came the day after Collins played what turned out to be his final game with Oregon State. Nine days later, the school said its top slot receiver would be out indefinitely with an unspecified health issue.

OSU athletic department spokesman Steve Fenk said the timing of Collins' absence and the date of the alleged assault were coincidental. Fenk said the athletic department on Nov. 21 suspended Collins indefinitely from all football activities.

Oregon State suspended Collins six weeks after the incident and six days before authorities served Collins with the assault citation.

The Corvallis Police Department served Collins with a citation on Nov. 27, according to court documents. The charge was signed by Joslin on Dec. 4 and filed to Benton County Circuit Court on Dec. 5.

Joslin said the Corvallis Police Department interviewed approximately 20 witnesses before citing Collins. Duncan said the investigation took longer since authorities had not been called to the scene at the time of the incident to conduct interviews.

Nash said Collins viewed the suspension as unfair and that his intention is to transfer and complete his college career. Collins has one year of eligibility remaining.

"The filing of charges against him in this manner could have a huge impact on his future," Nash said.

After missing the Beavers' first three games with a finger injury, Collins played three games during the 2017 season and totaled 12 catches for 130 yards and one touchdown. His last game was at USC on Oct. 7, when he had team highs of five catches for 91 yards and one touchdown.

Head coach Gary Andersen agreed to mutually part ways with the school on Oct. 8.

Collins, 22, did not play the Beavers' next game in Corvallis against Colorado on Oct. 14. It was their first matchup playing under interim coach Cory Hall, who replaced Andersen after his surprise departure. Collins greeted teammates as they got off the bus in the Reser Stadium parking lot.

On Oct. 17, the school said Collins would be out indefinitely with an unspecified "health-related issue." Multiple team sources, who requested anonymity since they were not authorized to speak about the subject, have said that Collins had mononucleosis.

Oregon State did not provide a statement from Collins or any school official in Thursday's two-paragraph statement announcing he had been granted his release.

Collins' departure from Oregon State ends a three-year tenure marked by moments of jaw-dropping athleticism, position changes and injuries.

The San Diego native was the first Andersen recruit to enroll with the Beavers and became their starting quarterback as a freshman in 2015 for six games. He completed 83 of 160 passes for 935 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions that season before moving to wide receiver. He was also the team's leading rusher with 108 carries for 575 yards and eight touchdowns.

Collins originally planned to transfer to Northern Illinois after his freshman season but instead opted to return to OSU as a receiver. Known for his fiery on-field demeanor, Collins was the Beavers' second-leading pass catcher in 2016 with 36 receptions for 418 yards and one touchdown, despite missing the final two games of the year after contracting meningitis.

Andersen spoke during the offseason about potentially redshirting Collins, who missed spring practice while recovering from the illness. But he returned for fall camp and moved to the slot before suffering the finger injury that sidelined him entering the season.

-- Danny Moran