Georgia football linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. can now breathe a sigh of relief after his reckless driving charges were dismissed, according to ESPN. Mondon was arrested by Athens-Clarke County Police on July 10 but recently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving too fast for conditions during a hearing at Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court.
Mondon’s attorney, Billy Healan, commented on the outcome, stating, “We feel like this was the appropriate resolution. Smael accelerated too fast, but he was not racing and wasn’t reckless. He has paid his fine, and he is ready to move on. Smael is scheduled to graduate in December and had no prior traffic incidents.”
The arrest occurred after Mondon was seen driving at 75 mph in a 40 mph zone, allegedly racing with his teammate, Bulldogs defensive back Demello Jones. However, Mondon denied any racing activity and claimed he didn’t know Jones. The police report noted that Mondon continued to deny knowing Jones even during the ride to the jail and deflected questions about a group chat by asking about the officer’s personal life.
Smael Mondon, a five-star recruit for Georgia football in 2021, played in 13 games for the Bulldogs during the 2023 season. He recorded three sacks, 68 combined tackles, and a pass defended. Prior to choosing Georgia, Mondon received offers from several top programs, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, South Carolina, Penn State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
Georgia, which had a 13-1 record in 2023, will kick off its 2024 college football season on August 31 against Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.