Report: Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith arrested outside of Athens

According to a report from Marc Weiszer from the Athens Banner-Herald, Georgia Bulldogs starting linebacker Nolan Smith was recently arrested outside of Athens. Smith, who just announced his return to Georgia for another season, was charged with two traffic violations on January 19.

According to Weiszer, Smith was charged with speeding in a construction zone and driving on a suspended license. He was reportedly going 89 miles per hour, 44 miles per hour over the limit, while traveling through Barrow County on his way home from the airport in Atlanta.

Both of Smith’s chargers were misdemeanors, and he was released shortly after being brought in. His license had been suspended since January 19, 2021. At the time of his arrest, Smith reportedly said that he was getting his license reinstated the next day.

Smith just recently announced he was returning to Georgia next season

Just days before his arrest, Smith announced that he will be returning to Georgia next season instead of entering the 2022 NFL Draft. The news is big for Georgia, as the Bulldogs are losing many key contributors on the defensive side of the ball.

In Georgia’s National Championship winning 2021 season, Smith racked up 55 tackles with 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception. In his three years with the Bulldogs, Smith has 95 tackles and 8.5 sacks. Smith played a big role in the national title game against Alabama, racking up seven tackles with a sack.

“Dawg Nation, what a ride it has been during my junior season,” started Smith, in a statement on his social media. “I feel I’ve grown tremendously during my time at Georgia thus far, both as a football player and as a man.

“I can’t express what it meant to me to bring a national championship home to Georgia. After careful consideration, I have decided to return to Georgia for my senior season and continue with what we have been building.

“Lets run this thing back! Go Dawgs!”

Smith came to Georgia as a five-star plus+ prospect according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.