Athens, Georgia – Georgia running back Trevor Etienne’s recent arrest on charges of DUI and other offenses has brought attention to a concerning trend of motor vehicle incidents involving the university’s football players. Etienne, the younger brother of NFL star Travis Etienne, was booked and released on bail early Sunday morning, as revealed by online records from Athens-Clarke County Jail.
Aside from the DUI charge, Etienne also faces allegations of reckless driving, failure to maintain lane/proper driving on the road, and affixing materials that reduce visibility of windows/windshield. This incident adds to a series of traffic-related incidents involving Georgia football players, including at least 15 traffic stops for excessive speeding in 2023, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Tragically, three of these incidents involved DUI, with one particular case resulting in two fatalities on January 15, 2023. Despite the university’s policy of suspending student-athletes convicted of DUI for at least one game, Etienne’s debut for Georgia may be delayed as a result of his recent transfer from SEC rival Florida.
Etienne’s DUI charge was categorized as “less safe,” indicating that he can be convicted even with a blood alcohol level below the legal limit of .08 in Georgia. Amidst the legal proceedings, Georgia’s executive associate athletic director for strategic communications, Steven Drummond, released a statement acknowledging the charges and indicating that the university is gathering further information.
Overall, this incident serves as a reminder of the ramifications of irresponsible behavior, especially among student-athletes representing esteemed programs like the University of Georgia. As the situation unfolds, authorities and university officials will continue to monitor and address the implications of Etienne’s legal troubles.