Georgia linebackers Robert Beal and Brenton Cox were arrested on charges of possession of marijuana Tuesday, according to the Athens-Clarke County police blotter.
The pair was arrested by the UGA Police Department at 3:13 p.m. with less than one ounce of marijuana, according to the jail booking recap report.
The arrest takes place less than one week after coach Kirby Smart indicated disciplinary issues that had cropped up earlier this spring would be “handled the right way.”
Cox, a sophomore who was running first team at outside linebacker, posted bond of $1,000 at 4:08 p.m.
Beal, expected to compete for a starting position, and posted $1,000 bond at 4:21 p.m., just as the Bulldogs were getting up to full speed in practice No. 7.
Cox appeared in 13 of the Bulldogs’ 14 games last season, drawing his first career start in the Sugar Bowl and making a career-high six tackles against Texas.
A 5-star recruit from Stockbridge, Cox had 20 tackles last season, including a sack at Kentucky in Georgia’s SEC East Division-clinching victory over the Wildcats.
Beal, a redshirt freshman from Norcross, appeared in 11 games last season, making 15 tackles
Georgia has had six players arrested this offseason.
Bulldogs senior receiver Tyler Simmons and freshman defensive back Tyrique Stevenson were charged with disorderly conduct stemming from a bar brawl that spilled out into the street March 24.
Smart Tuesday expressed disappointment Tuesday in the players and the situation and was critical of his own job of making sure his charges are aware of their conduct.
Obviously, I’m extremely disappointed,” Smart said. “I’ve obviously done a poor job with this group of connecting and making sure they listen and understand things. Obviously, we have policies and rules in place, (and) these guys violated those policies and rules, and they’ll serve the punishment they deserve for it.
“I hate the decisions they made ,and they’ve got to learn as young men you can’t break the rules – you can’t break the law. Obviously, our guys have not done a good job of that. It all falls on me, and we’re going to do a great job of moving forward and trying to get these guys in the right place to make good decisions.”
Asked once again about any leadership issues within the team, Smart said, “The sad thing is, I think we’ve got great leadership on this team. I don’t think a lot of our good leaders on this team can control some of these situations. They’re disappointed, they’re frustrated. I spoke to several of the guys that are on leadership group after practice today, and they’re very frustrated and upset, as we are as coaches. I can’t sit here and say we don’t have leadership on this team.”
Reserve sophomore linebacker Jaden Hunter, the son of the late Bulldogs’ legend Brice Hunter, was arrested March 20 for illegally stopping, standing or parking a vehicle and driving with a suspended/revoked license.
Sophomore defensive back Latavious Brini’s arrest Feb. 28 was for simple battery, after he allegedly slapped a South Carolina man outside of the Silver Dollar Bar in downtown Athens.
- AJC correspondent Chris Starrs contributed to this article.
About the Author
