Body cam footage has been made available of Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter interacting with Athens police on the night that the NFL prospect was involved in an auto accident that killed two.
Jalen Carter via Law&Crime Network YouTube
The 6’3″, 300-pound junior was driving his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk when he was involved in a single-car crash on the night after Georgia’s parade to celebrate its national championship. He wasn’t in the vehicle that was wrecked, but rather traveling at high speed on the same pathway. The other automobile, driven by University of Georgia staff member Chandler LeCroy, was allegedly street racing with Carter’s when the tragedy occurred. Both LeCroy and Bulldogs football player Devin Willock died from injuries sustained in the crash.
On March 1, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Jalen Carter. He would immediately turn himself in and was released on $4,000 bond just 16 minutes later. Carter won’t face jail time but did plead no contest to two misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing.
As Carter was looking to raise his stock at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, news of the warrant came out. It’s already been speculated that it affected his performance there, and it will factor into where he’s eventually chosen. However, he’s still considered to be a first-round pick when The League’s annual selection process takes place April 27-29.
Considering there were no felonies involved, and no legal entanglements will (for now) affect Carter’s ability to suit up on time for the 2023 season, this incident likely won’t hurt him much.
Jalen Carter via Sports Productions YouTube
Recently, Carter’s agent Drew Rosenhaus said that Carter should remain near the top of this year’s class.
“I’m confident Jalen will go in the top 10,” Rosenhaus recently told Adam Schefter. “He’s a good person, a family man, loves football and is a generational talent.”
Schefter also reported that Carter has been invited to the draft on April 27 and plans to attend.
Jalen Carter via Sports Productions YouTube
Despite his agent’s insistence, there has been cause for concern that Jalen Carter could be a bust – and that only partially has to do with this legal dust up.
The ‘Dawgs dynamic defender didn’t do any drills at the combine or even speak to the media. At Georgia’s pro day, Carter showed up nine pounds heavier than he had been just two weeks earlier at the combine. Then, he struggled to impress the scouts much in the only drills that had been handpicked for him to participate in.
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