Tahaad Pettiford arrest: Auburn guard releases statement on DUI, takes 'full responsbility'

Hours after being arrested early Saturday morning in Lee County, AL on alleged DUI charges, Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford released a statement on his Instagram account Saturday night.

“Last night, I made a serious mistake and one that I take full responsibility for,” Pettiford said. “My actions put myself and others at risk, and for that, I am deeply sorry. There is no excuse.”

“To my family, teammates, coaches, and fans, I know I’ve let you down. I understand the disappointment and concern this has caused, and I want you to know that I’m taking this seriously. This is not who I am, and not who I will be.”

“I’m committed to learning from this moment and making meaningful, positive changes in my life. I’m grateful for the support and accountability of those around me, and I will work to earn back the trust I’ve lost.”

Tahaad Pettiford issued this statement on social media tonight

🔗 https://t.co/i3G89t2aCc pic.twitter.com/tJBWyJKmRs

— Justin Hokanson (@_JHokanson) July 13, 2025

According to the arrest record, alcohol was the substance related to the incident. His blood-alcohol level (BAC) was not reported, but because he is under the legal drinking age, having a BAC of 0.02% or higher is considered illegal in the state of Alabama.

Pearl: ‘we will handle it internally with Tahaad and his family’

Pettiford is gearing up for his sophomore season with the Tigers, although a looming suspension looks likely. He tested the 2025 NBA Draft waters and drew interest from teams picking in the first round, but ultimately decided to withdraw and head back to college. 

He averaged 11.6 points per game, 3.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game across 38 appearances during the Tigers’ 2025 Final Four run. Pettiford started just one game during that stretch, but still averaged 22.9 minutes per game as a key player for the Tigers.

That came in what was an incredibly successful season for Auburn. Their 32 wins were the most Bruce Pearl has ever had at Auburn and marked just the second time he’s gotten to 30 wins since he took over the job in 2014. After winning the SEC in the regular season, the Tigers would go to the Final Four for the second time in program history.

“We are aware of the situation, and we will handle it internally with Tahaad and his family,” Pearl said, via ESPN’s Myron Medcalf following the arrest. “We take these matters seriously and will learn and grow from it moving forward.”

Before college, Pettiford was a four-star recruit according to the On3 Industry Ranking, which is 
a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 31 overall player in the 2024 cycle, and the No. 4 point guard in the class.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.