UGA running back arrested on DUI charge, jail records show
ATHENS, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - University of Georgia running back Trevor Etienne was arrested by Athens-Clarke County police and charged with driving under the influence early Sunday morning, according to jail records.
Etienne was booked at the Athens-Clarke County jail on a charge of DUI, along with charges of reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and affixing materials that reduce visibility of windows or windshield, according to the jail log.
He was booked at 4:35 a.m. and released in less than an hour after posting bond, which totaled $1,883, according to jail records.
The charges against him are all misdemeanors.
“We are aware of the charges and are currently in the process of gathering additional information,” Steven Drummond, UGA’s executive associate athletic director for strategic communications, said in a statement. “This is a pending legal matter and we will not have further comment at this time.”
Trevor Etienne, the younger brother of former Clemson star and Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, transferred to UGA in December after rushing for more than 700 yards each of the last two seasons with the Florida Gators, one of Georgia’s biggest rivals.
“Everything that we’ve heard about Etienne before he got here has held true,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said a few weeks back. “He’s a tremendous leader, high-character kid. He immediately surges into a leadership role because he’s not a first-year player. He’s been in our league, in our conference. He has standards and expectations.”
UGA quarterback Carson Beck also said recently that he was looking forward to incorporating Etienne into the offense.
“It always helps to have a good running back,” Beck said. “You feel comfortable turning your back to the defense and handing it off.”
The DUI charge against Etienne is the most recent allegation of drunk driving faced by a member of the UGA athletics program.
In January 2023, UGA football player Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy died from their injuries in a crash that allegedly involved drunk driving.
Athens-Clarke County police said LeCroy, who was driving, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.197% at the time of the crash. The legal limit is 0.08%.
Warrants allege that LeCroy was illegally racing former UGA defensive lineman Jalen Carter before the crash happened.
A court filing from a lawsuit over the deadly crash claims coaches and staff “regularly drove” Athletic Association SUVs after drinking alcohol.
The 75-page complaint claims supervisors and coaches “in effect, encouraged recruiting staff to drink alcohol with football prospects and their families.”
A spokesperson for the UGA Athletic Association said they dispute the claims made in the lawsuit.
Carter turned himself in to authorities on charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with the crash shortly after it happened. He later pleaded no contest to the charges.
Several other UGA football players were also arrested for alleged traffic offenses last year.
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Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
