Georgia Loses Third Player to Criminal Act Since Making College Football Playoffs

Posted on: December 14, 2017, 02:00h. 

Last updated on: December 14, 2017, 01:11h.

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Latavious Brini, a member of the Georgia football team, was arrested Tuesday on felony forgery charges. It was the third member of the program that has been arrested since the Bulldogs qualified for the College Football Playoffs after winning the SEC Championship on Dec. 2.

Georgia football
Starting linebacker is one of three Georgia football players that have been arrested in the last two weeks and may miss the College Football Playoff game against Oklahoma on Jan. 1. (Image: Ken Ward/Georgia Athletics)

Two of three players in trouble with the law were reserves and played limited roles this season. The other was starting linebacker Natrez Patrick, but Las Vegas sports books haven’t moved the lines with the news of his possible suspension from the Jan.1 matchup with Oklahoma in the College Football Playoffs.

The Sooners were a 1-point favorite when the game was announced and have gained a point. Both teams are 7-2 picks to win the national championship on Jan. 8.

Freshman Latest Arrest

Brini was taking into custody on an arrest warrant after an investigation into a July 14 incident at an Athens, Georgia pet store. The Miami Gardens, Florida standout was charged with using a counterfeit $100 bill at the store. He purchased $8 worth of merchandise and received $92 in change. A store employee making a deposit later realized the bill was a fake.

Brini used a false name and address when he signed up for a rewards card at the store when passing the phony bill. Eight days later he returned and used a debit card with his real name. The same cashier waited on him and alerted the manager who called police.

He has been suspended by the university as is the rule when a student-athlete is arrested for a felony. The policy is for a committee in the athletic department to review the case and then make a determination on any disciplinary action.

Pattern of Player Problems

The arrest of first-year defensive back Latavious Brini marked the seventh arrest in just under a year and third in less than two weeks. The other incident involved Patrick and reserve wide receiver Jayson Stanley on Dec. 2.

Hours after defeating Auburn in the SEC Championship Patrick and Stanley were pulled over by police who said in their report that a strong odor of marijuana was detected. Stanley, who played sparingly this year, was the driver and was charged with DUI, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and speeding.

Patrick was charged with a misdemeanor marijuana charge and both were held overnight in jail and then posted bond the next morning.

It was the third marijuana arrest for Patrick in two years and his second this season. In October he was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession and served a four-game suspension. He received a similar arrest in 2015 as a freshman and sat out one game.

The latest incident could mean his expulsion from the team. The Georgia Athletic Association policies call for dismissing a player from the team if they receive three drug-related charges.

Head Coach Kirby Smart has yet to address Patrick’s fate or if the other two players will be allowed to travel to the Rose Bowl for the Jan. 1 contest with Oklahoma.