Georgia football faces major blow after arrests of two key players

A pair of Georgia football players landed in trouble Wednesday night, including a linebacker expected to anchor the defense this fall.

Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon were arrested on driving-related charges by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Cole, an inside linebacker, and Ikinnagbon, who plays outside linebacker, are each facing multiple misdemeanor counts that include reckless driving.

MORE: Famed IMG Academy slapped with serious fine for Mexican drug cartel link

Clarke County Jail records show Cole was booked at 9:59 p.m., with Ikinnagbon following roughly half an hour later at 10:27 p.m. The two were released about 30 minutes after their bookings on Feb. 18.

Cole’s charges also included speeding, and he was released after posting a $26 bond. Ikinnagbon faced additional citations for following too closely and speeding, posting $39 bond before walking out.

“We are aware of the charges and are actively gathering additional information. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not be providing further comment at this time,” Georgia deputy athletic director Steven Drummond said, per Athens Banner-Herald.

Another off-field driving incident raises familiar concerns for Georgia

The arrests add to what’s become a troubling trend in Athens. Georgia has dealt with several driving-related incidents involving players over the past few years, and reckless driving charges have popped up repeatedly. It’s turned into a familiar headline.

<p>Jan 1, 2026; New Orleans, LA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart arrives prior to the 2026 Sugar Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Mississippi Rebels at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</p>
<p>» loading=»lazy» width=»960″ height=»640″ decoding=»async» data-nimg=»1″ class=»standard-img» src=»https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8cHEUOerDZWBvk06YDOb2A–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_big_lead_articles_114/a3da78a79f2aa07607dea4963e1ecc72″><dialog aria-label= — Jan 1, 2026; New Orleans, LA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart arrives prior to the 2026 Sugar Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff against the Mississippi Rebels at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Cole just wrapped up a productive 2025 season and was supposed to be a cornerstone of the Bulldogs defense moving forward. He finished the year with 59 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Ikinnagbon is still early in his college career. The true freshman appeared in five games last season, working mostly in a backup capacity. His role was expected to expand heading into 2026.

Georgia saw three other players, Nitro Tuggle, Nyier Daniels, and Marques Easley, arrested on driving charges in 2025 alone. All three ended up in the transfer portal and are no longer part of the program.