Police say UGA football player arrested after driving 105 mph

ATHENS, Ga. — University of Georgia cornerback Daniel Harris was arrested for reckless driving after police said he was clocked driving at 106 mph, making him the youngest player on the top-ranked Bulldogs to break the law while driving.

The sophomore from Miami was stopped by Athens-Clarke County police and booked into jail on five misdemeanor charges at 10:40 p.m. Thursday, according to an online report. He was released about an hour later on a total of $50 bail.

In addition to reckless driving, Harris was charged with not carrying proof of insurance, driving an unregistered vehicle, not wearing a seatbelt and illegally tinting the windows.

According to an accident report obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald, Harris was stopped near the Georgia campus after passing two other vehicles in a 2018 Jeep Cherokee on a rainy evening and was found to be speeding 65 miles per hour.

The arrest came less than 48 hours before Georgia, which had started the season 2-0, was scheduled to open the Southeastern Conference schedule with an away game against Kentucky (1-1, 0-1).

Georgia coach Kirby Smart, now in his ninth season as head coach of his alma mater, acknowledged that he struggles to teach his players safe driving – an issue that has taken on even greater prominence since a January 2023 crash that killed a player and a recruiting staffer, shortly after the team celebrated its second consecutive national championship.

Offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiter Chandler LeCroy were killed in the crash, which occurred when LeCroy and defensive tackle Jalen Carter were speeding on public roads. Football players at the school have since been involved in at least two dozen traffic-related violations, such as driving under the influence, reckless driving and speeding, according to a report in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

Smart has firmly declined to comment on any penalties his players receive from the school or athletic program, although history suggests Harris will be suspended for Saturday night's game in Lexington. Running back Trevor Etienne did not play in the season-opening win over Clemson after an offseason arrest, but the Florida transfer made his Bulldogs debut last Saturday against Tennessee Tech.

Without giving details, Smart said the players would be punished with suspensions and fines by the association, which makes the name, image and likeness payments to the school's athletes.

“The incidents that have occurred off the field are not something we can tolerate,” Smart said this summer before taking the stage at the SEC's Football Media Days in Dallas. “It's very unfortunate, disappointing, I think that's the best word.”

Harris appeared in six games as a freshman last season, playing on special teams and as a backup in the secondary. He has risen up the cornerback rankings this season, splitting time at the position with Julian Humphrey on the first line of defense. Harris was credited with four total tackles in the first two games as Georgia beat Atlantic Coast Conference member Clemson 34-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta to open the season and then defeated Football Championship Subdivision program Tennessee Tech 48-3 last week in Athens.

If Harris does not play in the game against Kentucky, which airs at 7:30 p.m. on ABC, freshman Ellis Robinson would likely take on a larger role.