Trevor Etienne’s tenure at the University of Georgia has gotten off to a rough start before he’s even taken a snap.
The running back, who was arrested for driving under the influence on Sunday, is now set to face discipline from the school, head coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday.
According to Athens-Clarke County Police (Georgia) arrest records, the brother of Jaguars running back Travis Etienne was charged with DUI, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane/improper driving on the road and affixing materials that reduce visibility of windows/windshield — all of which are misdemeanors.
An Athens-Clarke County Police report released Tuesday to multiple outlets stated Etienne, who had just transferred from Florida, was driving his 2024 Audi RS7 sedan around 80-90 mph in a 50-mph zone in the early morning hours of Sunday.
Once he was pulled over by police, Etienne reportedly was swaying and told an officer he had imbibed three beers “earlier” in the night.
He also refused a sobriety test and handed authorities his car key when he was asked for his identification, per ESPN.
He was released on $1,883 bail, according to arrest records.
Smart spoke about Etienne at a media availability on Tuesday, having praise for his attitude but did say the back will likely face “consequences.”
Per school policy, Georgia student-athletes will face losing at least 10 percent of their season’s games if they are convicted of DUI.
Smart added that Etienne will face rules from the university “in-house” rules for football players.
“He enjoys being coached, he’s a bright kid, we push him hard out there and he enjoys the competition,” Smart said. “As we also know, sometimes kids don’t always make the best decisions. The older you get, sometimes the tougher the consequences are for your mistakes. He’s not going to let this mistake define him. He’s embarrassed, he’s upset, he knows he made a mistake — it’s a teaching moment. We hope he gets better from it.”
“Some of it has to play itself out [in the legal system]. We’re still gathering information in terms of reporting things. But some things we know already. … University discipline is going to take its course, as well as what he has to have, consequences for his actions from the team,” Smart added.
Etienne, who has been competing for the lead back role with the Bulldogs, totaled 1,472 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns over his two seasons with the Gators before transferring to SEC rival Georgia.
A string of driving-related incidents and arrests have surrounded the football program over the last few years, and on Jan. 15, 2023, offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed while racing a car driven by Eagles 2023 first-round draft pick Jalen Carter.
Recruiting staffer Victoria Bowles, who was reportedly in the backseat of the car driven by LeCroy, was seriously injured in the crash and sued both Carter and the UGA Athletics Association last July.
She is seeking $171,595 in general damages along with punitive damages.
Bowles was fired in August after the school said she was not cooperating with its investigation into the incident.
According to Fox 5 in Atlanta, an updated complaint filed in January claimed that Georgia staff members “regularly” drove recruits after drinking in cars rented by the Athletic Association.
