ATHENS, Ga. — Two Georgia football players were arrested on separate reckless driving charges earlier this week.
Athens-Clarke County police officers arrested offensive tackle Bo Hughley and linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. on misdemeanor driving charges on July 9 and July 10 respectively.
Freshman cornerback Demello Jones was given a citation in relation to Mondon's arrest, according to Athens Clarke-County police report.
They arrested Hughley around 8:30 p.m. on two charges — failure to maintain lane and reckless driving.
They released him around 10 p.m. on a $26 bond.
According to another police report, Hughley was involved in a single-car accident on River Loop Road in Athens and was charged after.
Mondon was arrested around 11 p.m. on two charges. He also received a reckless driving charge alongside racing on highways/streets.
They released him on July 11 around 12:30 a.m. on a $26 bond.
According to a police report, Mondon, in a 2022 black Dodge Charger, was racing with Jones on West Broad Street in Athens.
Jones, a former four-star recruit from Swainsboro, was driving a 2021 gray Porsche Panamera at high speeds when Mondon changed lanes in front of him and speed up.
Because Jones willingly pulled over and cooperated with the officer, he only received a court only citation for racing.
Mondon, when on the way to jail, said he did not know who Jones is.
The Bulldogs Football team expected Mondon not only to start, but be the key leader in the linebacker room this upcoming season.
The senior and former five-star led the team in total tackles in 2022, was second in tackles in 2023 and, if he sees the field, has an opportunity to cement himself as the best inside linebacker in college football this season.
Hughley, meanwhile, hasn’t seen the field much, if at all after one year with the Bulldogs.
The 6-foot-7 redshirt freshman was a highly regarded four-star prospect coming out of Fairburn in 2023.
They forecast him to be a depth piece this season and could look for a starting role in a season or two.
These are the second and third driving charges Georgia players received this year. They come a few months after Florida transfer Trevor Etienne was arrested for a DUI in March.
The Bulldogs have had several speeding cases the past few seasons.
Last year, former offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy died in a reckless speeding crash.
2023 starters Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Jamon Dumas-Johnson were both arrested on separate reckless driving charges the same year. Both have left the team via the NFL draft and the transfer portal respectively.
In 2022, former starters Kenny McIntosh and Nolan Smith were arrested on separate speeding charges
Head coach Kirby Smart spoke on reckless driving several times this year and in 2023.
While he’s said that he believes Georgia prepares these players better than any college in the country, he’s also noted that this may be a problem that is never truly resolved.
“I don’t know if we can ever eradicate speeding, I don’t know if that’s possible, but I’m going to damn sure try because I don’t think that what we’re doing right now has been effective enough,” Smart said in July 2023.
Neither UGA Athletics or Smart have released statement. The incident will likely be a talking point at the upcoming SEC Media Days on Tuesday, July 16.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.