When Athletes Fail, We Focus on the Fallibility of the System The arrest of University of Georgia safety Ja'Marley Riddle on felony charges for possession of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor speeding charge serves as a stark reminder that even those in positions of privilege can fall victim to their own demons.
The narrative surrounding Riddle's arrest, however, is more complex than the usual tale of a star athlete's downfall.
Riddle's high school football coach described him as "a kid who always had his head on straight," and his impressive college stats – 133 tackles, 10 passes defensed, and six interceptions in just two seasons with East Carolina – suggest that he was well on his way to a successful athletic career.