Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon was arrested on Wednesday on charges of reckless driving and racing. Mondon was released on $26 bond on Thursday at 12:25 am.
An arrest report obtained by the AJC alleges Mondon was racing Georgia teammate DeMello Jones along Broad Street in Athens on Wednesday night around 10 p.m.
Per the report, Mondon and Jones were racing side-by-side down West Broad Street. Mondon continued to accelerate at a high rate of speed in the 2022 Dodge Charger he was driving. The report states he changed lanes in front of the other vehicle and continued driving at “an unsafe speed.” The report states that Jones slowed his vehicle down voluntarily.
Police state that Mondon was going 75 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone. The report states that Mondon denied he was racing and did not know Jones.
Jones, a freshman defensive back from Swainsboro, Ga., was cited for racing. He was not arrested though because he voluntarily pulled over. Mondon leaned over and told Jones “do not say anything in the group chat,” according to the report.
Mondon is a senior linebacker from Dallas, Ga. He was second on the team in tackles last season and is expected to be a starter for Georgia at inside linebacker this fall.
The arrest of Mondon happened on the same day that Georgia running back Trevor Etienne had his driving-related charges resolved.
On Tuesday, Georgia offensive lineman Bo Hughley was also arrested and charged with reckless driving, along with failure to maintain failure to maintain lane/improper driving on the road. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Mondon and Hughley represent the third and fourth driving-related arrest of the offseason for Georgia. Wide receiver Sacovie White was arrested in May on a reckless driving charge as well.
Georgia has not yet released any official statements on either of Mondon’s or Hughley’s arrest. Head coach Kirby Smart is set to speak with reporters in Dallas on Tuesday.