The 2024 season gave Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart a lot to celebrate. He reached his 100th win as head coach, and the Bulldogs wrapped up a strong 11-3 season. Georgia even came out on top in a nail-biting overtime win over Texas in the SEC Championship Game. But while the program sparkled on the field, a dark cloud continued to hover off it. There seems to be an endemic problem pertaining to Georgia’s culture.

Now, even before the 2025 season has kicked off, Georgia has already lost two players—not to injury but to legal trouble. Sophomore wide receiver Nitro Tuggle and freshman offensive lineman Marques Easley have been suspended indefinitely from all team activities. Smart made the announcement on March 20, before full details of the incidents were even public.

According to Athens-Clarke County Jail records, Tuggle was arrested early Thursday morning on charges of speeding and reckless driving. He was released after posting bond. Meanwhile, Easley was involved in a vehicle crash on the night of March 17, which is still under investigation, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

On the March 23 episode of Georgia Bulldogs Football on DawgsHQ, analyst Rusty Mansell dove into the situation. He explained just how much this could cost the two players—not just in reputation but in real dollars. “You get paid now, and part of your payment is to not have situations like this, and when you have something pop up like this, it is what I was told, a very significant fine.”

Mansell didn’t sugarcoat the financial hit either: “Some of these kids will lose a month’s salary…most of them make $10,000 a month minimum. He-l, I am 51, and if I get a $10,000 dollar ticket I would probably be in therapy right now.” This time around, Georgia acted fast. Some might say too fast. Mansell was surprised by how quickly the school responded—especially in Easley’s case.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with these two men in the long term, but I have not seen Georgia issuing a statement that quick.”
He added, “They issued the statement on Easley before it even went public… That message was sent, my opinion from the head guy saying ‘This done. We don’t doing that again.’” It’s clear Smart is drawing a line in the sand. With so much negative press already trailing behind the program, he’s not taking any chances.

Nitro Tuggle was a rising talent, a 4-star wideout signed back in December 2023. He caught three passes for 34 yards in 2024 and was projected for a bigger role this season. Marques Easley, on the other hand, was part of the 2024 signing class and appeared in two games. Both had potential, but now their futures hang in the balance.

Georgia issued a brief, two-sentence statement: “Nitro Tuggle and Marques Easley have been suspended indefinitely from all team activities. There will be no further comment.” It was short, firm, and to the point.

In fact, Tuggle’s arrest is reportedly the first known driving-related incident involving a Georgia player that resulted in charges this year. Easley’s case is still being investigated. But both cases once again put the spotlight on Georgia’s ongoing struggles with off-field discipline—especially with driving violations.

Kirby Smart and Georgia Bulldogs’ culture under fire again

Over two dozen members of the program have been arrested for similar infractions over the past couple of years. Rewind to January 2023, just days after Georgia celebrated its second straight national title. Tragedy struck. A crash killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy. The reports? LeCroy and defensive tackle Jalen Carter were racing. That single incident became the face of Georgia’s growing off-field issues, especially around reckless driving. Since then, Smart has admitted he’s struggled to convince his players to take these issues seriously. But the pattern hasn’t stopped.

And the 2024 season saw its fair share of headlines—but not always for the right reasons. Wide receiver Rodarius ‘Rara’ Thomas was arrested in July for multiple charges, including three counts of family violence battery and three counts of second-degree cruelty to children. Just days later, offensive lineman Bo Hughley was arrested on July 10, followed by linebacker Smael Mondon the next day. And if that wasn’t enough, running back Trevor Etienne missed the season opener against Clemson, along with cornerback Daniel Harris, both held out after separate driving-related arrests.

At that point, fans and critics alike began to question the program’s culture. “The Culture at Georgia is truly a joke. This is disgusting. Kirby Smart must be held accountable.” This was the charge brought against Smart last season. Even with fines, suspensions, and public statements, the issue persists. So here we are in 2025, and the Bulldogs are still battling the same off-field demons. Is this a cultural problem that runs deeper than a few bad decisions?