ATHENS, Ga. — University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart touched on the recent DUI of running back Trevor Etienne, who was arrested Sunday morning and charged with multiple driving offenses.
The star transfer, who previously played for the Florida Gators, has since bonded out after posting over $1,800 in bail, according to Athens-Clarke County jail records.
"I first want to reiterate what I said last week about the kid," Smart said to reporters in Athens on Tuesday.
"I have really enjoyed getting to know him. I think he is a great kid and a great person," Smart said of Etienne. "We have gotten to know his family. He enjoys being coached, and he is a bright kid. We push him hard out there, and he really loves the competition."
"As we also know, sometimes kids don’t make the best decisions," Smart continued. "The older you get, sometimes, the tougher the consequences of your mistakes are. He is not going to let this mistake define him. He is embarrassed, he is upset, and he knows he has made a mistake. It is a teaching moment, and we think he gets better from it."
Etienne's arrest marks the latest of numerous reckless driving incidents involving UGA football players and staffers over the last couple of years, including one that led to the death of a player and staff member in early 2023 that came just hours after Athens celebrated back-to-back national championship wins.
Smart noted, "In addition to our university discipline process, we have all the stuff we deal with in-house, and (Etienne) will be under the same rules we have in-house as well as university discipline. I am disappointed in his decision-making, but he is a good kid."
The Athens Clarke County Police Department said the 19-year-old football player's arrest was initiated after an officer observed a car driving recklessly near Will Hunter Road, leading to a traffic stop. A police report notes that Etienne reached speeds of up to 80 or 90 miles per hour.
The police said that the reckless driving and observations made by the officer during the stop prompted them to arrest Etienne under what is called a DUI "less safe" charge. Essentially, this allows for situations where people can refuse to take a test or have a blood alcohol concentration less than the legal limit but still be charged.
According to a state statute, a person cannot drive or be in control of a moving vehicle while under the influence of anything that could be less safe for them to drive. This can include alcohol, any drug, glue, aerosol or other toxic vapor.
So, because a test doesn't determine the "less safe" charge, officers may look for other indicators of drunk or drugged driving, like bloodshot eyes, slurred speeches, driving erratically and more.
The police report notes Etienne swayed back and forth while standing on flat ground, his eyes were glossed over, and his speech was slurred. The officer also noted that he admitted to drinking but said it was "way earlier."