Georgia football players arrested for speeding were going 105 mph, passing vehicles: police report

ATHENS, Ga. — Two University of Georgia football players arrested earlier this month on speeding and reckless driving charges were going more than 100 miles per hour and passing cars on a highly-trafficked highway in Athens.

According to a police report from Athens-Clarke County Police, the arresting officer said he was watching drivers for speed on the Outer Loop in Athens when he saw two vehicles driving at what he thought was at least more than 100 mph.

He pulled out his radar gun and clocked a black 2025 Mercedes GLE going 105 mph. Right behind that driver, UGA linebacker Chris Cole, was linebacker Darren Ikinnagbon also driving more than 100 mph and following Cole “rather closely,” according to the report.

The officer said both vehicles had also passed six or seven vehicles in the process.

As the officer pulled out, he saw both vehicles slow their speeds to 60 mph in the posted 65 mph speed limit zone. He activated his police lights and drove for about a quarter of a mile, but neither driver pulled over to the side. He then activated his siren, but both drivers continued driving straight.

The officer said he then pulled to the side of Cole’s car to try and read his license plate and that’s when both drivers pulled over to the shoulder.

The officer said after weighing the facts he laid out to both drivers, he would arrest Cole for reckless driving and speeding, and Ikinnagbon for reckless driving, following too closely, and speeding.

The officer said driving at those speeds at 9:15 p.m. is “not only life-threatening to themselves, but also to every motorist on the road. At such high speeds, if a situation necessitated an emergency braking, their stopping distance would be far longer than if they had been driving the speed limit. Ikinnagbon’s decision to drive at such an egregious speed at an equally egregious distance further added to the hazard imposed on motorists.”

A UGA football coach picked up both player’s cars after they were taken into custody.

Former Bulldog Christen Miller said at the NFL Combine on Wednesday head coach Kirby Smart does not take these incidents lightly.

“Coach Smart, he don’t deal with that. He don’t like that. He don’t like that at all. It’s not right. He don’t like it. And I feel like he does a good job of disciplining players for it. Holding them accountable, taking money, having us come in early at 6:30s, just showing us that’s not what you do. When you get in the car, you drive the speed limit and you do what you’re supposed to do.”

Both players were released on bond and later issued apologies.