Expert offers shocking analysis of former Georgia Bulldogs’ DUI arrest before his NFL free agency begins
Ben Cleveland hasn’t been a member of the Georgia Bulldogs football team since the end of the 2020-21 season, but considering the alcohol-related issues the program has dealt with under Kirby Smart’s tenure, it’s another alarming chapter in a developing book. The Baltimore Ravens guard is headed to NFL free agency in March after completing his rookie contract, but his future just got more difficult to project.
One of our experts was able to provide alarming context to the situation.
Cleveland was cited for driving under the influence in Milledgeville, Georgia, after failing to maintain his lane. According to the police report, Cleveland informed an officer that he had consumed about three to four beers at a country club but had not ingested any alcohol in the last two hours.
He agreed to undergo field sobriety tests, followed by a breathalyzer test, which revealed a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .178, more than double the legal limit of .08. Subsequently, he was arrested and, after being taken to jail, recorded a breath result of .161.
Cleveland, 26, was issued citations for DUI and failing to maintain a single lane, as noted in the booking report. He was released from custody early Thursday morning after posting a $1,000 bond.
A to Z writer Tyler Forness, who has been ServSafe certified for food and alcohol for years, was able to refute Cleveland’s claim of how much alcohol he ingested. Forness said that Cleveland, weighing about 360 pounds, “a guy his size would need to consume 10 Budweisers in two hours to blow that high, and that might be low.”
Cleveland will now have to deal with the aftermath before free agency after a season where he played 52 snaps. He’s totaled only 685 snaps over four seasons, so he’ll be a reserve option for teams.
