Since the start of 2023, over twenty people associated with Georgia’s football program have been arrested. Among them, linebacker Smael Mondon and offensive lineman Bo Hughley were arrested on back-to-back nights for traffic-related charges, including reckless driving. Hughley was arrested by University of Georgia police for reckless driving and improper lane changes, while Mondon was booked for reckless driving and racing on highways.
These arrests mark the 20th incident involving someone from the Georgia football program being arrested for traffic offenses since January 2023. Hughley and Mondon are the third and fourth Georgia players to face reckless driving charges since March. Trevor Etienne Jr., a transfer running back, was also arrested in March for driving under the influence and reckless driving, but his DUI charges were dismissed in a July plea deal.
Mondon was a key player on Georgia’s defense in 2023, earning second-team All-SEC honors with 68 tackles, three sacks, and two quarterback hurries. Hughley, a top prospect signed in 2023, redshirted as a freshman due to an injury.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart discussed during SEC media days that punishment for off-field incidents, revealing that players like Mondon and Hughley could face fines from the program’s NIL collective. “Our Classic City Collective has been fining players for such incidents for over a year,” Smart said. “This is outside my jurisdiction, and it’s something they decided to do.”
NIL collectives have started enforcing punishments like fines for skipping classes, though this practice is controversial. Mit Winter, an NIL lawyer, warned that while fining athletes is legal, it could blur the line between athletes being contractors or employees.
Counting Mondon and Hughley, more than 20 Georgia players have been arrested for traffic-related offenses in the past 18 months. In January 2023, Georgia player Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy died in a car accident while celebrating the Bulldogs’ 2022 national championship. Police allege that LeCroy was racing with then-player Jalen Carter when the crash occurred.
Coach Smart expressed concern about the high number of incidents but defended his program’s efforts to address the problem. “It’s disappointing when these situations happen,” Smart said at SEC Media Days. “We emphasize education, driver safety, and even suspend or dismiss players for driving violations. We have a great locker room and good kids. They just need to make better decisions.”