Georgia cornerback Daniel Harris faces multiple charges, including reckless driving, following an arrest late Thursday night.
Georgia cornerback Daniel Harris was arrested late Thursday night on charges including reckless driving, adding to a troubling trend of driving-related arrests within the football program. The incident occurred just after 8 p.m. ET when Athens-Clarke County Police clocked Harris going 106 mph and overtaking two cars on a local highway.
Harris, a sophomore who has mainly served as a reserve cornerback, was charged with reckless driving, operating an unregistered vehicle without a license plate, lacking proof of insurance, failing to use safety belts, and obscuring window visibility with materials. Following his arrest, Harris posted bail totaling $50, which amounted to $10 per charge.
The arrest comes at a challenging time for the Georgia football program, which has seen a series of driving-related legal issues. Harris was traveling with the team to Kentucky and, despite not appearing on the SEC availability report released Friday night, there is a possibility he could be sidelined for the upcoming game. University of Georgia officials have not commented on his status.
Coach Smart has emphasized the team’s commitment to addressing these problems and enacting discipline.
“If people go say, ‘Well, it falls on deaf ears, you got to have discipline, you’ve got to discipline someone.’ Well, we have, and we will continue to do so,” Smart said. “If the actions require that, we’ll do what’s necessary to do that. But I do think the effective way in curtailing some things is when you go to their wallet and you find them because these fines have been substantial, and it’ll make you think twice about the mistakes you make.”
This incident marks the eighth known driving-related arrest involving a current Georgia player since January 2023. That period was marked by the tragic deaths of player Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy in a crash. LeCroy was found to be intoxicated and was engaged in street racing with former player Jalen Carter at the time of the accident.
In response to these ongoing issues, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has implemented stricter measures. For instance, starting tailback Trevor Etienne was suspended for the season opener following a DUI arrest in March. Additionally, the team dismissed reserve defensive back David Daniel-Sisavanh over the summer due to a violation of team rules, which included a reckless driving arrest earlier in the year.
The recent trend of driving-related incidents within the Georgia football program has raised concerns about player conduct and discipline. The program has been actively working to address these issues, with measures including withholding NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) funds from players who face legal troubles. These steps are part of a broader effort to enforce accountability and discourage further violations.
As the situation with Harris unfolds, the Georgia football program continues to navigate the fallout from these incidents. The program’s response and the impact on team operations will likely be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. The focus now shifts to how the team will handle the repercussions and the broader implications for player behavior and discipline moving forward.
