Georgia has released backup offensive lineman Nyier Daniels a day after his arrest for an alleged high-speed chase.
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Georgia dismissed offensive lineman Nyier Daniels on Monday, a day after he was arrested on more than a dozen criminal charges after he allegedly tried to flee from police north of Athens.
Head coach Kirby Smart announced Daniels’ dismissal, telling reporters that “he is no longer with us.”
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Daniels, a backup offensive lineman, is facing two felony counts of second-degree cruelty to children, a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, and a felony count of affixing materials that reduce or increase light transmission, according to records obtained by On3. Daniels is also facing nine other traffic-related misdemeanor citations, including reckless driving.
Per a police report obtained by ESPN, Daniels had two younger siblings in his car as he fled from police at speeds exceeding 150 mph in Interstate 85. Daniels was arrested in Commerce, Georgia, and was being held at the Jackson County Jail in Jefferson, which sits about a half-hour northwest of Athens. He was being held on $21,000 bond as of Monday.
Daniels was a four-star recruit out of high school in New Jersey, and he landed at Georgia after offers from Penn State, Florida State, Texas and Rutgers, among others. He has played as a reserve offensive lineman this season after redshirting last year, and played in No. 4 Georgia’s 35-3 win over Charlotte on Saturday.
This is just the latest high-speed driving incident the Georgia football program has faced in recent years. Offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy were killed in a car crash in January 2023, shortly after the team won a national championship. That occurred after they were allegedly racing another player.
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Offensive lineman Marquis Easley was arrested in March after he got into a car accident and hit a power distribution box. Wide receiver Nitro Tuggle was arrested two days later and charged with reckless driving and speeding after he was pulled over going 107 mph, more than 40 mph over the posted speed limit, outside of Athens. Both players were suspended, and eventually transferred to Purdue.
Linebacker Smael Mondon was arrested in July 2024, on reckless driving charges, too. Mondon’s arrest was the 19th driving incident involving a Georgia football player since the deadly crash.
Georgia, now 10-1 on the season, will take on No. 16 Georgia Tech next on Friday to wrap up the regular season.
