With spring ball here, this is the last thing that Georgia Bulldogs football head coach Kirby Smart wants to be dealing with. As most of you know by now, the program has dealt with plenty of headaches in recent years in terms of off-the-field issues, particularly with driving incidents.
More of the same has arrived for the Bulldogs. According to UGASports.com, second-year wide receiver Nitro Tuggle was arrested and booked in Athens on Thursday morning at 1:56 a.m. He was released not long after being taken into the station. Tuggle, hoping to post a breakout season for Georgia in 2025, is facing charges of reckless driving and speeding.
BREAKING: Georgia wide receiver Nitro Tuggle was arrested this morning by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department on charges of Reckless Driving and Speeding — Maximum Limits. Both are misdemeanors. Tuggle is a rising sophomore. pic.twitter.com/rFcDW2PQ2y
— Lance (@LM_Sports_Media) March 20, 2025
Georgia WR Nitro Tuggle was arrested on reckless driving and speeding charges
It was a busy offseason for Tuggle, as he originally was planning to transfer and continue his college career elsewhere. However, he had a change of heart and he indeed is hoping to post a head-turning campaign on offense for the Bulldogs this fall.
This latest setback has plenty of people talking, however, and not in a good way. It also puts the spotlight back on Georgia for the 'speeding culture' that's been surrounding the program. According to an article over the summer from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there had been at least 24 known incidents/arrests with players/staff members and vehicular events since January of 2023.
This included the heartbreaking news on recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock. The two passed away following an accident shortly after Georgia posted its second triumph from its back-to-back national titles. According to the Associated Press, the Athens-Clarke County investigators determined that speed and alcohol played a role in the fatal crash.
Since then, Smart has been preaching to everyone involved with the program to make better decisions behind the wheel. As of this writing, Georgia is yet to release a statement following Tuggle's arrest. This is a developing story and Smart will surely be asked about this the next time he meets with the media.