North Carolina freshman defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland Jr. is not taking part in team activities after a one-car crash in Chatham County in mid-September, according to state troopers and a UNC football spokesman.
Cleveland, 18, was cited after the Sept. 17 crash on State Road 1731 in Pittsboro for exceeding the posted speed limit, unsafe passing on a double yellow line and failure to maintain lane control, according to a citation issued by the State Highway Patrol. Troopers said the 2026 BMW he was driving hit a tree and, after coming to rest, caught fire.
Witnesses told troopers that Cleveland passed on a double yellow line, and skid marks at the scene matched that account, according to the citation. Troopers said he then lost control in the curve.
His speed was listed at 75 mph in a 45-mph zone. The box for injury or serious injury was not checked, and the report did not include information about his condition.
Court records showed Cleveland was found guilty/responsible on all three charges in October before his scheduled court hearing.
“We are aware of a one-car accident involving football student-athlete Vodney Cleveland on Sept. 17,” a UNC football program spokesman told WRAL in a statement. “He is not currently participating in team activities.”
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound freshman from Alabama has not played this season and has been listed as out on every ACC availability report since UNC’s first report for its Sept. 19 game against Clemson. UNC only has to release those reports for conference games, and the Tar Heels play a nonconference game at UConn on Saturday.
It was not immediately clear whether Cleveland’s absence is tied to injuries from the crash or to disciplinary reasons. Troopers did not list any injuries in the report.
Cleveland was a four-star recruit and originally committed to Texas before signing with North Carolina.
He was also cited for speeding on Sept. 14, only days before the crash, after allegedly driving 66 mph in a 45-mph zone in Durham, according to a citation issued by the Durham Police Department. He had previously been cited for driving 96 mph on I-40 East in Greensboro in February.
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