Getty Image
Anyone who’s kept tabs on the football program at the University of Georgia over the past couple of years knows it has a serious reckless driving issue on its hands, and Kirby Smart called attention to one of the ways it’s trying to get things under control with the help of its NIL collective.
Last week, Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Bo Hughley was arrested by campus police and charged with reckless driving a day before cops in Athens nailed linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. and cornerback Demello Jones for allegedly engaging in a street race near downtown.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that means a grand total of 24 people with links to the football team have now been implicated in cases involving speeding, street racing, or driving under the influence since recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy and lineman Devin Willock were killed in a high-speed collision linked to a race that also involved Jalen Carter in the wake of their national championship win in January 2023.
At this point, it’s impossible to deny Georgia has a major problem on its hands that it has failed to adequately address, and defensive lineman Mykel Williams acknowledged that’s the case while saying he and other players are leading an internal push to crack down on the concerning trend when SEC Media Days kicked off (QB Carson Beck was a bit more blunt when it came to his assessment of the situation).
According to The Athletic, head coach Kirby Smart also chimed in on the matter while calling attention to another approach boosters linked to the program have quietly harnessed, noting the school’s NIL collective has been trying to send a message by docking the compensation of players who’ve landed in hot water due to their driving:
“Our Classic City Collective for over a year has been substantially fining guys for those things.
That’s not something that’s new. That’s something that’s been ongoing outside of my jurisdiction that they decided to implement and have done for a considerable amount.”
While you do have to give credit where credit is due for the implementation of that approach, it would appear it’s still left plenty to be desired if it’s been in effect for more than a year.
Here’s to hoping Georgia is able to figure out something that’s a bit more effective before tragedy strikes again.