Georgia safety suspended

The University of Georgia managed to squeeze in one more off-the-field debacle before today’s football opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Freshman safety Alec Ogletree, the most decorated member of Georgia’s 2010 signing class, has been suspended for today’s game following his arrest Friday on a misdemeanor charge of theft by taking.

“Certainly, it’s an unfortunate sequence of events,” Bulldogs coach Mark Richt said. “I’m disappointed in the situation and will continue to gather information as the case is processed through the proper legal channels. In the meantime, Alec is still responsible for a poor decision and will serve a minimum one-game suspension as a result.”

The UGA police department issued an arrest warrant Thursday for Ogletree in relation to a June 15 incident outside the Rankin Smith Academic Center, and he turned himself in Friday afternoon. Ogletree was charged after a track-and-field student-athlete reported his $35 scooter helmet missing.

Richt said several times during preseason camp that Ogletree, the No. 3 safety and No. 40 prospect overall this past winter according to Rivals.com, will play as a freshman. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder from Newnan is the ninth Bulldogs player since March to be arrested.