Two more Georgia football players arrested on driving-related charges

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia football added two more driving arrests to its growing total Wednesday night, when junior linebacker Chris Cole and sophomore edge Darren Ikinnagbon were booked at the Athens-Clarke County jail.

Cole, who finished fourth on the team in tackles last season, faces one count of reckless driving and one count of speeding over the maximum limit. Ikinnagbon was charged with three misdemeanors: reckless driving, speeding and following too closely.

Jail records show the players were arrested and released at separate times within an hour of each other. Bond was set at $26 for Cole and $39 for Ikinnagbon. Authorities have not said whether the incidents were related.

The arrests bring the program’s tally to 13 known driving-related detentions since the January 2023 crash that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. Coach Kirby Smart has since tightened internal discipline, withholding name, image and likeness payments for traffic arrests or citations and, in some cases, dismissing players. Reserve lineman Nyjer Daniels was dismissed in November after a traffic stop led to a felony charge, while receiver Nitro Tuggle and lineman Marques Easley entered the transfer portal following misdemeanor traffic arrests last year.

Smart reiterated in November that discipline is “case-by-case,” determined by the athlete’s history and the specifics of the incident. He has not yet announced any punishment for Cole or Ikinnagbon.

Georgia has won 117 games since Smart took over in 2016, but off-field driving issues continue to shadow the program’s success.