Georgia’s Carter goes down with apparent cramping at pro day
ATHENS, Ga. — Stetson Bennett gave himself a lukewarm grade for his workout of about 55 passes for NFL scouts, general managers and coaches at Georgia’s pro day on Wednesday.
Jalen Carter didn’t stick around to comment on his performance. Following position drills, he was sprawled on his back with arms outstretched on the turf, suffering from apparent cramps. The defensive tackle did not participate in other tests, including the 40-yard dash and broad jump.
Bennett and Carter helped lead Georgia to back-to-back national championships but each has been dealing with off-field legal problems in a troubled offseason.
Bennett was arrested in Dallas on Jan. 29 and charged with public intoxication. Carter — widely regarded as one of the top picks in the April 28 NFL draft — faces misdemeanor charges of racing and reckless driving in relation to the Jan. 15 crash that killed teammate Devin Willock and Georgia recruiting staffer, Chandler Lecroy. It isn’t clear how the charges will affect Carter’s draft status.
“We know what comes with the territory of where we are now and things that are going to be out and situations we put ourselves in and how to be responsible,” Bennett said after his workout.
The 6-foot-3 Carter weighed 323 pounds on Wednesday. He was listed by Georgia at 300 pounds during the 2022 season and checked in at 314 pounds for the NFL scouting combine in late February.
Carter had 32 tackles, including seven for losses, and three sacks as Georgia won its second consecutive national championship.
After the Athens-clarke County Police Department issued the arrest warrant, Carter posted a statement on his Twitter account on March 1, saying “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.”
Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Carter is “a major talent.”
“Very few guys I’ve coached have the talent he has,” Smart said.
Three NFL coaches — Atlanta’s Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin and Chicago’s Matt Eberflus — attended the pro day.