UGA player turned in by coach after 100 mph chase, mother accused of blocking police

Written by: A. Smith

Published November 24, 2025 @ 9:59 AM ET

JACKSON COUNTY, Ga. – A University of Georgia football player and his mother were arrested Sunday after authorities say the pair were involved in a high-speed chase that began in downtown Commerce and continued onto Interstate 85.

Nyier Daniels, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on charges that include reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, two counts related to running stop or yield signs and two counts of second-degree cruelty to children, according to the sheriff’s office.

His mother also faces several charges, including speeding, obstruction, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, fleeing and two counts of running a stop sign.

Commerce police said the pursuit began when an officer pulled over Daniels’ mother for a stop-sign violation. During that stop, another vehicle — later identified as being driven by Daniels — raced past at more than 100 mph in a 25-mph zone through the city’s downtown area.

Police Chief Jeffery Drossner said the officer ended the traffic stop and attempted to catch up to Daniels. The chase moved along several streets, including North Broad Street, Old Maysville Road and Maysville Road. At one point, Daniels’ mother allegedly positioned her vehicle to block an officer who was responding to the pursuit, according to police.

Officers eventually got around her car and continued following Daniels as he entered I-85. Police said they lost sight of his vehicle near mile marker 144 and ended the chase. Daniels’ mother was later stopped and taken into custody.

A short time later, police said a UGA football coach drove Daniels back to authorities in the same vehicle involved in the chase, and Daniels surrendered.

The University of Georgia Athletic Association said in a statement it is aware of the arrests and is gathering more information. “This is a pending legal matter, and we will not have further comment at this time,” the statement said.

Daniels, part of UGA’s 2023 recruiting class, has appeared in only a few games this season, including the matchup against Charlotte the night before the incident.