ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart said he’s still gathering information on the overnight arrest of starting linebacker Natrez Patrick, who was arrested for a third time at UGA for marijuana possession.
That normally would mean automatic dismissal per UGA student-athlete policy. But Smart, when asked about the status of Patrick and Jayson Stanley – who was arrested with Patrick – the coach was noncommittal.
“Natrez and Jayson, obviously I’m disappointed in some of the actions there,” Smart said, then added: “But we still don’t have all the information completely in from that. So their discipline will be handled internally.”
Stanley and Patrick were arrested in Barrow County late Saturday night, after the team had bused back to Athens from the SEC Championship Game. Patrick was charged with possession of less than one ounce of marijuana,and Stanley with DUI and marijuana possession. Stanley has no previous known arrests.
Patrick started at inside linebacker and had three tackles in Georgia’s win. Stanley, who had played in 10 games this year, also started. While Stanley hasn’t recorded a catch this season, he does play on many running downs and had drawn raves from Smart for his play on special teams.
A junior, Patrick has started seven games this year and is sixth on the team in tackles. He was a starter throughout last year, finishing second on the team in tackles
Patrick was arrested in October on a charge of possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. He sat out the next four games per UGA student-athlete drug policy. As a freshman he was suspended one game after his first marijuana arrest.
The arrests of Patrick and Stanley are the fifth and sixth known arrests of Georgia players this calendar year. Tailback Elijah Holyfield and receiver Riley Ridley were both also arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges early in the year, each sitting out the season opener. Defensive lineman Justin Young was arrested earlier this season on a misdemeanor traffic charge.