Elite NFL Draft prospect Jalen Carter has reportedly returned to the NFL Combines just hours after being arrested and posting bond in Athens, Georgia on charges of reckless driving and racing.
The NFL Combine was shaken to its core on Wednesday when Jalen Carter — a player viewed by most as the best in this year’s draft class — had an arrest warrant issued for him by authorities in Athens. The warrant was in relation to his involvement in a January crash that saw the deaths of teammate Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy days after their win in the National Championship game.
Also Read: Jalen Carter says he will reveal ‘truth’ following reckless driving charges
An investigation by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department found that the Georgia Bulldogs star gave an account of the crash that was not at all aligned with what their inquiry discovered about the incident. He was then subsequently charged with reckless driving and racing a result.
Following the revelation of his impending arrest, the top prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft released a statement via his Twitter account and claimed he intended to face the charges in Athens, make sure the “complete and accurate truth” of the crash was eventually made public, and clear his name of any wrongdoing in the fatal incident.
Jalen Carter was reportedly booked last night and posted a $4,000 bond before being released by authorities (via Ian Rapoport). However, despite the dark cloud placed over him and his projection in April’s NFL Draft, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport revealed on Thursday morning that Carter was “back at the combine to finish his interviews, measurements, and other activities.”
The news is shocking because of the very tough questions the uber-talented defensive lineman is sure to get from NFL teams today. However, if the 21-year-old is completely confident of his innocence, there may be no better way to explain that fact than straight from the mouth of the accused individual.
Broadcasted workouts from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis are set to kick off today at 3 PM ET on NFL Network.