UGA football player accused of going 100 mph during police chase with 2 kids in the car

ATLANTA (ANF/Gray News) — A University of Georgia football player was arrested, along with his mother, after leading police on a chase that reached speeds of 100 mph while his two siblings were in the car.

Nyier Daniels, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman and former four-star player at Bergen Catholic, is now facing four felony charges and nine misdemeanors.

According to the Commerce Police Department report, officers had stopped Daniels’ mother, Brandi Canada-Green, for failing to stop at a stop sign on Sunday. While initiating the stop, the responding officer said a white BMW sedan passed them going “over 100 mph in a 25 mph zone.”

Police reported that Daniels, who they said was driving the BMW, then led officers on a chase with his two younger siblings in the car.

UGA’s coaching staff was able to assist in getting Daniels to surrender and end the chase at police headquarters. The police report said an officer noted an “odor of marijuana” coming from inside the car after Daniels got out.

Daniels faces four felony counts, including fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, two counts of second-degree cruelty to children and affixing materials that reduce or increase light transmission/reflectance of a window.

He was also charged with nine misdemeanor counts, including reckless driving and exceeding maximum limits.

His mother was also arrested in connection with the incident. According to police, she is accused of blocking one of the officers from joining the chase by pulling out in front of him. She faces six charges, including willful obstruction of law enforcement officers.

When asked why he ran, Daniels told police that he “did not want his mother to get a ticket.”

“I stated to Nyier now that this incident occurred, his mother and he are going to jail, Nyier stated, ‘it has been worse,’” the officer said in the report.

On Monday, UGA head football coach Kirby Smart said he has not spoken directly with Daniels, but he has been removed from the team.

In a statement after Daniels’ arrest, UGA said it is “aware of the charges and is currently in the process of gathering additional information.”

“This is a pending legal matter and we will not have further comment at this time,” the university said.