University of Georgia football star Jalen Carter, a highly sought-after prospect for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, is facing arrest warrants in Athens, Georgia for reckless driving and racing charges.
The charges stem from an ongoing investigation into a fatal car accident on January 15th that claimed the lives of Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. Both charges against Carter are misdemeanors.
According to the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Carter, 21, and LeCroy were driving their cars in a reckless manner consistent with street racing after leaving downtown Athens around 2:30 a.m. ET. Evidence from the investigation shows that both cars were switching lanes, driving in the center turn lane and opposite lanes of travel, and overtaking other motorists while driving at high rates of speed.
At 2:45 a.m. ET, LeCroy’s 2021 Ford Expedition left the road, hitting two power poles and several trees, resulting in his and Willock’s deaths. Other passengers in LeCroy’s car, including Georgia offensive lineman Warren McClendon, were injured.
Police reports indicate that LeCroy’s vehicle was traveling at approximately 104 mph shortly before the crash. A toxicology report showed that LeCroy had a blood alcohol concentration of .197 at the time of the incident.
Investigators have concluded that reckless driving, speed, racing, and alcohol impairment were significant contributing factors to the crash.
Carter has released a statement stating that he plans to return to Athens to face the misdemeanor charges against him and to ensure that the complete and accurate truth is presented. He maintains that he will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing once all the facts are known.
The news of Carter’s arrest warrants emerged just hours after the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published a report claiming that Carter was at the scene of the accident, left before the police arrived, and provided conflicting accounts of the wreck when questioned by an officer about the possibility of street racing.
University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart expressed deep concern about the charges against Carter and emphasized the university’s commitment to cooperating fully with the authorities, supporting the families of the victims, and learning from this tragic event.
Carter, a first-team All-American and All-SEC player in 2022 played a crucial role in the Bulldogs’ national championship victory, starting in nine games and appearing in 13. He is currently ranked as the No. 1 player on NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s list of this year’s top 50 prospects.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Carter has run afoul of the law. On September 22, 2022, he was cited by the Athens-Clark PD for speeding when he was clocked driving at 89 mph in a 45 mph zone.
The news of Carter’s arrest warrants is likely to have a significant impact on his draft stock, and NFL teams will no doubt take a hard look at his character and decision-making abilities before making any decisions.
