Jalen Carter, a championship-winning defensive lineman at Georgia and a top NFL Draft prospect, said that he will be “fully exonerated” of accusations that he was racing and driving recklessly in connection with a crash that killed a former teammate and football team staffer.
Former Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy died following a single-car accident early in the morning of Jan. 15.
On Wednesday, Athens-Clarke County police alleged that Carter was driving a separate car “in a manner consistent with racing” at the time the other vehicle crashed and the two people in it died.
After the misdemeanor charges were announced, Carter issued a statement on Twitter declaring his innocence.
“This morning I received a telephone call from the Athens Georgia Police Department informing me that two misdemeanor warrants have been issued against me for reckless driving and racing,” Carter wrote.
“Numerous media reports also have circulated this morning containing inaccurate information concerning the tragic events of January 15, 2023.
“It is my intention to return to Athens to answer the misdemeanor charges against me and to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented.
“There is no question in my mind that when all of the facts are known that I will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.”
Police had said that Carter was driving a 2021 Jeep Trackhawk while LeCroy was behind the wheel of a 2021 Ford Expedition.
“The evidence demonstrated that both vehicles switched between lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes of travel, overtook other motorists, and drove at high rates of speed, in an apparent attempt to outdistance each other,” the Athens-Clarke County Police Department claimed earlier Wednesday.
“Evidence indicated that shortly before the crash the Expedition was traveling at about 104 miles per hour.”
After the charges were announced, Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer said that professional teams had already been probing potential red flags about Carter.
“NFL teams had a lot of questions concerning Jalen Carter’s maturity/makeup that went back well before this incident,” Breer tweeted.
“Obviously, this would qualify as a pretty serious red flag stemming from a tragic situation. Those in the Top 5 have a lot to dig through on the Georgia star.”