Look, at this point, Georgia football’s got a bigger issue with speed than their wide receivers. And no, we’re not talking about breaking records on the field. We’re talking reckless driving, crash reports, and a head coach who’s getting real tired of repeating himself. It’s like déjà vu in Athens. Another offseason, another Bulldog in legal trouble for tearing up the streets like it’s a Fast & Furious audition. This time, it’s NiTareon “Nitro” Tuggle and Marques Easley making headlines—and not the kind that look good on a draft résumé. And if you think the fans are frustrated, just wait until you hear what Kirby Smart had to say about it.

The Bulldogs have been dealing with this mess for a while now. Tuggle and Easley’s recent arrests for reckless driving and speeding only add to a staggering 32 driving-related incidents tied to Georgia players and staff since the tragic 2023 crash that took the lives of Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy. You’d think that loss would’ve been a wake-up call, but somehow, the message still isn’t sinking in. And now, after these latest arrests, all eyes are back on Smart and how he plans to handle it.

Georgia’s no stranger to players making sketchy moves behind the wheel. Just last season, they booted David Daniel-Sisavanh and Rara Thomas before the season even got started. Plus, Trevor Etienne and Daniel Harris had to sit out games because of similar legal issues. At this point, you’ve got to ask: Where’s the accountability? On April’s fool, SEC Mike and Cousin Shane hopped on a late-night live session of their podcast and let it rip on Kirby Smart’s response to the latest chaos. And let’s just say they weren’t buying what the head coach was selling.

On Tuesday, after wrapping up Georgia’s 10th spring practice, Kirby Smart stepped up to the mic, and the million-dollar question was thrown at him: Is it time for some hard consequences? The reporter didn’t hold back: “Kirby, you mentioned a couple of driving issues. Have you ever thought about saying, ‘Look, there’s an ultimatum…’?” Essentially, was it time to draw a line in the sand and make it clear—one more incident, and it’s over? Smart’s answer? Not exactly what people wanted to hear.

“No, I don’t believe in ultimatums when it comes to that. I really don’t think that’s a recipe for the problem. I don’t think that solves anything. We’ll continue to look at each one of these on a case-by-case basis… These—if these are your children, because that’s the way I look at it, and I look at what I would do with my children. And there’s 18 to 19 to 20-year-olds—they make mistakes, and the consequences that come with those are based on a case-by-case basis. And that’s really what these two right now are dealing with.” Smart explained. He doubled down, saying that, as a coach, he treats his players like his own children—meaning, he believes in handling mistakes individually, rather than laying down a universal hard rule.

That answer didn’t sit right with everyone. SEC Mike and Cousin Shane weren’t shy about their opinions. Cousin Shane opined, “Well, I think, you know, if he’s treating them like children, then you gotta be a parent sometimes, you know what I’m saying?” He compared it to his daughter, who has recently started to drive, saying that if she kept speeding, there’d be real consequences—like losing the keys for a week. “And Kirby, you can’t come out here and say they’re like children and then not treat them like children. You know, there are tools that you could use to keep these kids in check.”

And he’s got a point. Accountability is part of leadership, and if your squad is constantly making headlines for the wrong reasons, maybe it’s time for a new playbook. Fans aren’t asking for a dictatorship, but they are wondering—if 32 incidents weren’t enough to put some fear into these kids, what will be?

Kirby Smart gets real about Georgia’s WR squad: What’s up with the concerns?

While Georgia is trying to clean up its image off the field, the team’s got some real business to handle on it—starting with the wide receiver room. Let’s keep it a buck—last season, Georgia’s wide receivers were a mess. Dropped passes? Way too many. Inconsistent performances? Check. The Bulldogs led the nation in dropped passes in 2024, and Georgia fans? They’re still having nightmares about it.

Now, heading into 2025, the Bulldogs have a revamped receiver corps, bringing in two big-name transfers like former 5-star Zachariah Branch and Noah Thomas, who are expected to be instant starters. But here’s the catch—new faces don’t guarantee new results. And Kirby Smart? He’s keeping it all the way real about the work still left to do. “There’s days I want to see more toughness,” Smart admitted via 247sports.com. “I want to see more run-through tackles. Don’t lay on the ground, [and] don’t hold your hands up if the ball’s not in the right spot. Just body language drives me nuts.”

Translation? Quit complaining and make a play. It’s one thing to have talent, but if you don’t have the mentality to back it up, you’re not gonna last in the SEC. And Smart’s already seen enough lazy habits to be frustrated. This ain’t the first time he’s had to push his WRs to step up. Earlier in the spring, Smart called out some of his freshman receivers for not being in shape, leading to limited reps. If you’re trying to be the next big thing in Athens, showing up out of shape and unfocused ain’t gonna cut it.

But here’s the silver lining—Smart isn’t writing this group off just yet. “They’re getting better. Day by day, they’re getting better, and there’s a good depth in that group,” he said. So, what’s the bottom line? Georgia’s WR room has talent, but talent alone won’t win them another title in this NIL-backed era. The Bulldogs have work to do, and if Smart’s recent comments are any indication, he expects this unit to level up—fast.