Kirby Smart is staring at a familiar storyline in Athens. After more than 20 Georgia player arrests over the 2023 and 2024 seasons, the trend hasn’t cooled off in 2025. In that list, running back Bo Walker has now been added. The latest incident has fans scrambling to learn everything about the Bulldogs’ freshman.

Georgia football offered a scholarship to class of 2025 running back recruit Bo Walker in August 2023. He locked his commitment in October 2023. He has earned the tag of ‘under the player’ by ESPN. 

Smart brought back a loaded running back room and even dipped into the portal for Josh McCray. But it was Walker who grabbed the early buzz.

“Walker wasn’t the most heralded prospect in Georgia’s most recent recruiting class, but he turned some heads in spring practice with his physical style and speed,” Mark Schlabach wrote for ESPN.

Hailing from Ellenwood, Georgia, Walker played his high school ball at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee under Derek White. During his senior season, he powered the team to an NCISAA Division I state championship and an 11-2 finish, totaling 681 yards and three scores on 75 rushes and six catches.

Walker began his high school journey at Cedar Grove before transferring for his final year. In his junior season, he led the way to both a 3A-Region 5 crown and a Class 3A state title, finishing 10-5 while piling up 2,001 yards and 30 touchdowns on 250 carries and 37 receptions. 

As a sophomore, Walker contributed to a Class 3A second-place finish, producing 785 yards and seven touchdowns. The 5-foot-9, 210-pound running back was the 23rd-ranked running back in the recruiting class and 44th-best player in the state. Smart had his eyes on him.

Walker committed to Georgia in October 2023, choosing over the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Louisville Cardinals, and the Ole Miss Rebels. Last year this time, the four-star prospect and the long-time commit signed a letter of intent with Smart’s squad.

He saw action in four games this season, turning 22 carries into 100 yards and three touchdowns. But the momentum didn’t last. He was held out against Georgia Tech and later appeared on Georgia’s injury report with a listed facial fracture.

“Bo’s not with us,” the head coach confirmed during the SEC Championship Game press conference. “He’s required to have surgery. So, he’ll be out for this game.” 

Here comes another setback. All these honors went for a toss as Walker got arrested on shoplifting charges. 

Bo Walker is booked by Athens-Clarke County Police

Walker and Georgia starting offensive guard Dontrell Glover were arrested Friday, Dec. 12, and charged with misdemeanor theft by shoplifting. Both were booked into the Clarke County Jail shortly after 5:30 p.m. and released before 8 p.m., per the jail’s online records. The arrests were made by the Athens-Clarke County Police.

“We were informed of the charges and are currently in the process of gathering additional information,” Georgia deputy athletic director Steven Drummond told the Athens Banner-Herald. “This is a pending legal matter and and we will not have further comment at this time.”

This is the same Walker who had Smart and staff smiling after his breakout showing against UNC Charlotte, carrying nine times for 48 yards and three touchdowns in Georgia’s 35-3 rout.

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“He is a young kid who’s a good back,” praised the proud head coach. “We got to watch him play up at Rabun Gap his senior year and we thought he was a really good player and he’s gotten better and better.”

Whether Walker remains in Smart’s good books is up for debate, especially considering the hard line Smart took when offensive lineman Nyier Daniels faced 13 charges, including felony fleeing from police.

“Have not had a chance to talk to him or his family, but obviously he [Daniels] will no longer be with us,” Smart said.

Will Bo Walker undergo the same fate?