Georgia Bulldogs and Kirby Smart have an illustrious career together. They have won two back-to-back national titles, 3 SEC titles, and a team that has progressed and made significant strides under Smart’s tutelage. That being said, his last season was less than perfect, as the Bowl game loss against Notre Dame still hurts the Dawg Nation. All eyes are now on the future and how Kirby Smart could rise without Carson Beck, with his new untested QB Gunner Stockton.

Despite the significant strides on the field, one off-field issue has always plagued Georgia. That is the strange case of reckless and drunk driving. The UGA fraternity hasn’t even fully recovered from the deaths of Chandler LeCroy and Devin Willock. And it seems the players at Georgia haven’t learned any lessons from the gruesome tragedy that ensued just hours after their winning parade.

According to the latest reports, Georgia’s offensive lineman Marques Easley had been arrested on Friday after he was charged with a misdemeanor for alleged reckless driving and speeding. Although he was released just 40 minutes after the arrest after posting a bail bond. Georgia and Kirby Smart have taken a stern step and suspended the player from all activities, including practices at Georgia. The OL told the officers present that he was driving quite slow at around 25-30 mph, but police and investigation reports have something else to say.

“The investigating troopers found this to be an inaccurate account of (what) happened due to the amount of damage from the crash and the fact that (the Dodge Challenger) had tire marks going back an estimated 200 feet.” As per the reports, the player was driving in his 2021 Dodge Challenger in a ‘reckless manner.’ That’s when his car crashed into an apartment in Watkinsville on 17th March. However, there’s another player, too, in all of this.

That is wide receiver Nitro Tuggle, the UGA freshman who had 34 yards and played just 2 games last season. Tuggle is also charged with reckless driving and speeding and is reportedly suspended from Georgia’s activities too. Another player, Ondre Evans, was also reported to be in the crash, although he wasn’t taken to the hospital. Easley’s arrest is now the second arrest in the incident after Tuggle was arrested. So far, Georgia’s players or staffers have been involved in more than 30 speeding and reckless driving incidents since Chandler LeCroy’s death in Jan 2023.

Kirby Smart warns his players in stern words

Kirby Smart, it seems, isn’t happy with his players at all. The problems in the previous season may have prompted him to change his ways now. Last year, Georgia led the country in drops (37), plus their run game averaged just 124.4 yards per game, the worst since 2016. Their defense didn’t also quite impress, as they are ranked 30th in total defense, which is again the lowest in Smart’s tenure. But Kirby Smart, with his recent statement, can change all that.

“We have to coach it. I mean, that’s what they get. What we are supposed to do, to coach them? They have to be willing to receive coaching. And on the whole, my preaching after the practice was. We got a lot of guys that put their hands up; they’re offended when you coach them; I’m not talking about the freshmen; I’m talking about, in general. We had multiple NFL coaches come through here and go to practice. And you know they talk about how their players love to be coached. And some of our guys are offended by it. It’s like you’re coaching me hard? You’re telling me I gotta play with effort? And some of them, I guess, have never been held to that standard.”

The concerns of Coach Kirby Smart about his players’ “not willing” to be coached are quite serious and concerning. And Kirby Smart is doing what any coach would do by sending a message to his players and making it clear. Furthermore, he would also want his receiver’s struggles to go away as soon as possible. So it seems the message is simple: without effort, there’s no place for anyone on the roster. DJ Shockley of FOX Sports and former Bulldogs player sided with Coach Kirby Smart and proclaimed a stern test for all the players.

“Well, right now, he’s (Kirby Smart) trying to set the standard that is Georgia football. That he wants these guys to play harder. He wants more out of them and you can’t wait for when the season comes. You can’t wait for the fall to roll around, and you’re getting ready for the first game of the year to try to get these guys to go. It has to happen right now. Spring Ball has to happen right now. When you’re getting guys ready to play, you can’t wait for later on.”

Well, the players would surely benefit from strictness in every aspect. Because the culture that coaches like Kirby Smart inculcate in their squad is quite major for them. Hopefully, in the 2025 season, we could see all that change. He has the 2nd-ranked class nationally and some of the best receiver talents, like CJ Wiley, Talyn Taylor, Elyiss Williams, and most of all, the incoming USC receiver Zachariah Branch.