Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter returned to the NFL scouting combine on Thursday after turning himself in to Athens police Wednesday night and posting a combined bond of $4,000 on charges of reckless driving and racing in relation to a fatal crash that killed a teammate and team staffer.
Carter, originally , could lose millions of dollars if he drops from the top of the first round because of his alleged connection to the Jan. 15 and a recruiting staffer, 24-year-old Chandler LeCroy.
Police allege in an arrest warrant that Carter was racing his 2021 Jeep Trackhawk against the 2021 Ford Expedition driven by LeCroy at the time of the crash. Willock was a passenger in the SUV LeCroy was driving.
Carter turned himself in at 11:33 p.m. and was released at 11:49 p.m., according to Athens-Clarke County jail records. He posted bond of $2,500 on the racing charge and $1,500 on the reckless driving charge.
Carter issued a statement on Twitter after the warrant was made public Wednesday, saying he expects to be 鈥渇ully exonerated."
He said he intends "to make certain that the complete and accurate truth is presented. There is no question in my mind that when all of the facts are known that I will be fully exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing.鈥
The combine in Indianapolis has been abuzz with talk of Carter's charges.
"All I can do is pray for him,鈥 Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith said.
And NFL teams will be seeking more information.
鈥淲e鈥檒l track that, obviously,鈥 said Washington Commanders general manager Martin Mayhew on Wednesday.
鈥淲e have a company we work with on background investigations. We鈥檒l work with that company. We have very thorough analysis of these guys鈥 background, especially criminal activity or criminal behavior or things like that. I don鈥檛 know what happened with him. I鈥檓 not saying he did anything wrong. But we鈥檒l know what happened with him. We鈥檒l find out.鈥
Carter has been projected to be drafted as high as No. 1. In 2022, Georgia defensive end Travon Walker earned a $41.65 million contract from Jacksonville as the No. 1 overall pick. The No. 10 pick, Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson, earned a $22.6 million deal with the New York Jets. The No. 20 pick, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, landed a $15.3 million contract from the Steelers.
鈥淚 think the character is really important but I think you have to go into it with the understanding these are typically teenage kids,鈥 Mayhew said. "If they made a mistake as a teenager and we condemn every single guy that did that, that鈥檚 on us. You鈥檝e got to weigh everything and evaluate everything in the whole person and that鈥檚 the way I look at it.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know all the details of it. It certainly is a challenge for him and something that needs to be explained, thoroughly explained and something that needs to be investigated in terms of is this the first time it has happened.鈥
As much as the situation could impact Carter's professional future, the loss of life in the crash overshadows it all, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said.
鈥淔irst of all, that was a horrible tragedy," DeCosta said. "Let me say that. Secondly, I don鈥檛 know a whole lot about the situation. ... I wouldn鈥檛 want to comment on the specifics about how that would affect somebody鈥檚 draft status, because there鈥檚 a lot more information and I鈥檓 not privy to that. I might be by the time the draft rolls around. It was a horrible thing that happened down there and I feel horrible for the families, the parents involved. I have children and it鈥檚 a horrible thing. That鈥檚 what I鈥檇 say about that.鈥
The crash occurred just hours after the Bulldogs celebrated their second straight national championship with a parade and ceremony.
According to the arrest warrant, LeCroy and Carter were operating their vehicles 鈥渋n a manner consistent with racing鈥 after leaving downtown Athens at about 2:30 a.m.
The warrant says evidence shows the vehicles switched lanes, drove in the center turn lane, drove in opposite lanes, overtook other motorists and drove at high rates of speed 鈥渋n an apparent attempt to outdistance each other.鈥
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AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
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