2 Georgia football players arrested on weapon charges

Two Georgia freshman early-enrollees were arrested overnight on two felony counts related to possession of a BB gun and property damage, according to Athens-Clarke County jail logs and a statement released by the program.

Defensive lineman Julian Rochester and cornerback Chad Clay were booked early Tuesday at 12:13 a.m. on two felony counts. Both are being charged with possessing a weapon in school zone and with criminal damage in the second degree.

“I’m disappointed with the poor judgment of Julian and Chad,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “We expect full compliance with the policies of the University and of our football program from all our student-athletes. Information is still being gathered but they will be disciplined in an appropriate manner.”

The weapon charge related to the BB gun was given a disposition of no bond. The criminal damage charge has a bond of $5,000 for each player.

Clay was booked at 12:13 a.m. and Rochester was booked at 12:29 am. Both were arrested by university police.

The two appear to be roommates, as both are listed with the same on-campus address.

Rochester is a player who has earned first-team reps this spring and came in expected to contribute to the program early. Clay has been among the young defensive backs pushing for time in the secondary’s rotation.

Rochester’s high school alma mater McEachern posted a statement in support of its former player.

On the football field, Georgia’s taken some disciplinary hits to its defensive line already. Chauncey Rivers will serve a three-game suspension to start the year following a second marijuana-related arrest in December. Jonathan Ledbetter will serve a one-game suspension in the season-opener against North Carolina due to an alcohol-related arrest in March.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 9:52 AM with the headline "2 Georgia football players arrested on weapon charges."