Mark SchlabachESPN Senior Writer4:27 PM ET4 Minute Read
ATHENS, Ga. — Though two players have been arrested for street racing offenses in the past two weeks, including Jalen Carter’s booking Wednesday in connection with a Jan. 15 accident involving a Georgia football player and a recruiting staffer, coach Kirby Smart , died insists his program has no culture problem.
“Absolutely not. I’d say we’re a long way from that,” Smart told ESPN on Friday. “When you talk to people outside of our program who are participating, they’re talking about what a great culture we have – and we’re doing an incredible job. Because I have many outside units that come into our program and pour into these young men.
“Do we have perfect young men and women and players? Not necessarily. But I promise you, that’s the intention: we want to educate these guys and make them better. And I feel really good about the culture within our program.”
Smart said in his first interview since the deaths of offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy that he and his staff have worked hard to educate their players about the dangers of speeding and racing.
Carter, the Bulldogs’ former defensive tackle who could be a potential No. 1 in April’s NFL draft, was arrested on Wednesday on reckless driving and racing misdemeanor charges. He was released on bail after a short detention. Linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, a 2022 Butkus Award finalist, was arrested on the same charge last week.
Police officials said they observed Dumas-Johnson’s vehicle traveling at high speeds before fleeing the scene on Jan. 10, a day after Georgia defeated TCU to win its second straight national title.
Then, on Jan. 15, just hours after Georgia celebrated with a parade and ceremony at Sanford Stadium, Athens-Clarke County police alleged that Carter was driving a Ford Expedition driven by LeCroy on a road near campus may be. Police said the expedition went off the road around 2:45 a.m., hitting two power poles and several trees.
Willock, an offensive lineman from New Jersey, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. He was behind LeCroy and wasn’t wearing a seat belt. LeCroy was taken to a hospital by ambulance and died as a result of her injuries.
Former Georgia player Warren McClendon and another staffer, Tory Bowles, were injured but survived.
Police said the expedition was traveling 104 miles per hour when it crashed. A toxicology report found that LeCroy’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.197, about 2½ times the Georgia legal limit.
Smart said he was sleeping at home when his wife, Mary Beth, woke him with the devastating news. He had several missed calls on his cell phone.
“Heartbreak,” Smart said when asked what he remembered from that night. “I got a call at 3am. Went straight to the ER. Probably one of the most difficult moments I’ve ever experienced as a coach and leader, to see the pain on the faces of the players who joined in the morning In the emergency room. [Athletics director] Josh Brooks was there. You know, [I] I still remember the ambulance who broke the news to me and it was just one of the most painful experiences of my life.”
Smart said many players are still grappling emotionally with the tragedy.
“In our building we have 130 football players who are injured and dealing with pain. And we’ve been emotionally supportive of these guys’ mental health,” Smart said. “We’ve had several players who struggled to come back after the save that really dealt with it. It’s been a tough, difficult time for our family, our internal family, for both the staff and the players. And we continue to support both the Willock and Chandler families.”
Smart’s last interaction with Willock, 20, was at the end of the parade and celebration.
“I remember him leaving the stadium with a big smile on his face,” said Smart. “I just finished speaking on the podium and we cheated on each other [and] gave each other knuckles as we did from time to time. He just had an infectious smile. One of the gentlest, best in character people. You know, he picked up my 10-year-old son and carried him off the field on championship night.”
Smart said he didn’t recall seeing LeCroy, 24, at the celebration.
The Expedition LeCroy rode had been leased from the athletics department for recruiting. When asked if it was LeCroy’s job to bring the players home that night, Smart replied, “Absolutely not. Absolutely not.” He added that no policy changes were needed as a result of the crash.
Smart said he wasn’t aware Carter was subpoenaed in September for driving 89 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone. The Athens-Clarke County Police Officer asked Carter to slow down — and tell his teammates to do the same.
“You all need to slow down dude,” the officer said, continuing, “Your break is you’re not going to jail. Because that would make all sorts of news, right?”
Smart said his program brought in officers from the UGA Police Department and the Athens-Clarke County Police last summer to educate players about the dangers of street racing. Smart said Bryant Gantt, the program’s director of player support, suggested it after watching news clips of street racing in Atlanta.
If Georgia’s players didn’t heed the warning then, Smart hopes they will learn from the Jan. 15 tragedy.
“I mean there [are] Laws on these things to prevent this for a reason,” Smart said. “And we want to educate our players in every way, in every part of our organization. We’re always looking for a better way, whatever that is, including health and safety. I talked about drugs and alcohol, talked about gambling, talked about car racing and high speeds. You have to educate your players and make sure they understand the risks and dangers involved and we tried to do that.”