Cop chooses not to stop Jalen Carter despite speeding before fatal crash (Video)
Jalen Carter was cited for speeding last September, per the records secured by FOX 5 from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department in Georgia.
The Georgia defensive lineman was logged going at almost 90 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone on the Atlanta Highway, according to reports. The officer who pulled over Carter can be heard saying the he needs to slow down.
"Your break is you're not going to jail. 'Cause that would make all kinds of news, right? Just hang tight, right. You're getting a ticket for the speed.When you do something dumb, I'm gonna stack stuff on you. But your break is you're not going to jail cause that was reckless."
You can see the video below:
Police who stopped top NFL draft pick Jalen Carter says he wasn't taking him to jail because he didn't want to make the news he was going 89 in a 45👀🚔 https://t.co/TNht6RVrtW
In January, police charged Carter with speeding and reckless driving in connection with the crash that took the lives of teammate Devin Willock and 24-year-old Bulldogs staff member Chandler LeCroy.
Authorities claim the consensus All-American drove his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against the 2021 Ford Expedition driven LeCroy, leading to the tragic car crash.
Two other traffic summons were given to Jalen Carter during his time at the University of Georgia. On June 10, 2019, he received a verbal warning for his car's dealer tag. As stated by the Athens-Banner Herald, the other summons happened shortly after midnight on June 19, 2022, for a disabled vehicle.
With the NFL Draft coming up next month, the Bulldogs star was seen as a top-10, even top-five pick. But has his draft stock been impacted by his legal woes?
Is Jalen Carter still a top-five pick in the 2023 Draft?
When looking at some mock drafts, some have the Georgia defensive lineman still within the top five, going to the Seattle Seahawks fifth overall.
However, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has Jalen Carter falling to the Houston Texans at the 12th spot. McShay explained how the defensive lineman's off-the-field issues have impacted his draft stock.
"I’ll start by stressing that Carter’s draft range is an unknown right now. He was arrested last week on charges of reckless driving and racing in connection with a crash that killed a Bulldogs teammate and a recruiting staff member, and teams are doing their due diligence as they sort through the situation."
"No one I’ve spoken to around the league knows how it will impact his stock or what comes next. It’s likely Carter will fall a bit, but we don’t know how far — so take this projection with that context."
We'll see where Jalen Carter lands as his past is certainly a determining factor in his NFL future.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Fox 5 Atlanta, Arizona Sports, and H/T Sportskeeda.