Another Georgia football player cited for high speed driving. This time for 88 mph in 55
About an hour before a Georgia wide receiver pleaded guilty to speeding in an Athens courtroom Wednesday morning and was admonished by a judge for putting himself and others at risk, another Bulldogs football player received a citation for speeding about 10 miles away.
Samuel M’Pemba, a freshman outside linebacker who enrolled at the school in January, was ticketed for driving 88 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone, according to information obtained Thursday from the Oconee County Sherriff’s Office.
M’Pemba was pulled over driving a 2020 Dodge Durango after being clocked at 10:31 a.m. going northbound on 441 at Experiment Station Road.
M’Pemba, a top 50 national recruit in Georgia’s 2023 class from Olivette, Missouri, signed out of IMG Academy in Bradenton.
NORTHWESTERN: Football coach Pat Fitzgerald suspended after hazing investigation
A misdemeanor speeding citation in most offseasons would hardly be a blip, but it comes after Georgia coach Kirby Smart has had to address multiple times racing, reckless driving and speeding arrests publicly and the program's culture.
That followed the death of offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy in a Jan. 15 crash after LeCroy and defensive tackle Jalen Carter were racing hours after a national championship celebration.
Wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint on Wednesday had a reckless driving charge dismissed when he pleaded guilty to the speeding charge of going 90 mph in a 45 mph zone in May on Atlanta Highway in Athens. He received six months probation, a fine of more than $1,000 and was required to complete a defensive driving class and a traffic violators impact program. The violation brought with it six points on his driver's license.
“The recent incidents of reckless driving are completely unacceptable, and the University of Georgia Athletic Association is addressing this conduct with appropriate action, including a range of disciplinary measures,” UGA athletics said in a statement in June. "Measures can range from suspensions and athletic participation restrictions, to community service, to mental health treatment and mandated educational programs. As with all academic and student-athlete wellness and health matters, the specifics remain confidential, between the Athletic Association and the student-athlete.”
Georgia said it does not suspend players for speeding tickets or minor traffic violations, "but we do pursue appropriate action. In response to the severity of more recent behavior, we proactively introduced punitive measures to heighten consequences."
Georgia athletics says players who have a Super Speeder violation will have one-on-one meetings with athletic director Josh Brooks to “address high-risk behavior.”
The state of Georgia classifies Super Speeders as going 75 or more on a two-lane road or 85 or more on other roads or highways. Georgia athletics said those meetings with Brooks began in February and “several” had been held.