Senior receiver Tyler Simmons and freshman cornerback Tyrique Stevenson went through Tuesday afternoon's practice at Georgia after being charged early Sunday morning with disorderly conduct following an incident at an Athens bar.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed," Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday evening in a news conference. "There is a standard of behavior that is expected of student-athletes at the University of Georgia, and that's not indicative of the behavior we want. It's very obvious those guys made poor choices and decisions, and they will be disciplined internally."
Smart said Simmons and Stevenson, a five-star signee according to 247Sports.com, did not go to the bar together, but they have been linked by an Athens-Clarke County police report as subjects who allegedly fought with bar employees. Stevenson was arrested at 2:42 a.m., and he was released less than an hour after posting $1,000 bond, according to the Athens-Clarke County Jail booking report.
Simmons wasn't booked but rather taken to the hospital following the disturbance due to an injury to his ear, Smart said.
Four Bulldogs now have been arrested within the last month. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Latavious Brini was charged with simple battery Feb. 28 after allegedly slapping a man in the face outside an Athens nightclub, and redshirt sophomore inside linebacker Jaden Hunter was charged last Wednesday for driving on a suspended or revoked license and for illegal stopping.
"Our kids go downtown, and we know our kids go downtown," Smart said. "When you go downtown, you've got to behave. For the most part our guys do, but when they don't, they're going to be punished."
Tuesday's practice was the fourth of the spring for the Bulldogs.
Simmons and Stevenson have been performing well, according to Smart, with Simmons getting plenty of first-team opportunities. A 6-foot, 201-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of Powder Springs, Simmons had nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Smart said Stevenson already is contributing to a youthful but promising crop of cornerbacks that includes Eric Stokes, Tyson Campbell and DJ Daniel.
When asked about the new edge-rushing tandem of Jermaine Johnson and Nolan Smith, Smart lit up and said he loves the "hunger" from that pair.
"They don't know what they're doing yet, and that's our job," Smart said. "I'm very thankful they're here for these 15 practices. I'm fired up about coaching these two guys."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.