Ole Miss DB Dante Core Arrested Days Before Sugar Bowl Clash with Georgia
Just days before Ole Miss takes the field for its Sugar Bowl showdown against Georgia, the Rebels are dealing with an unexpected off-field distraction. Freshman defensive back Dante Core was arrested on December 26 in Alabama, following a traffic stop that’s now making headlines ahead of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
According to authorities, Core was clocked driving over 110 miles per hour and didn’t have a visible license plate on his vehicle. During the stop, officers reported smelling marijuana, which led to a search of the vehicle.
That search turned up marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and Core was subsequently charged with possession of both. He was later released on a $1,000 bond, per Covington County officials.
The timing couldn’t be more disruptive. Ole Miss is set to face Georgia on New Year’s Day in New Orleans, and while no official word has come down regarding Core’s availability for the game, his status is now very much in question.
This Sugar Bowl matchup is already rich with storylines. It’s a rematch of the October 18 meeting between these two teams, when Georgia outlasted Ole Miss 43-35 in a high-scoring affair. Since that loss, the Rebels have been on a tear, rattling off six straight wins to punch their ticket into the playoff picture.
Core, a highly touted four-star recruit out of Choctawhatchee High School, chose Ole Miss over offers from several major programs, including Auburn, Boston College, and Mississippi State. He was expected to be part of the foundation for the Rebels’ future secondary. But now, his promising start has hit a serious snag.
As for Georgia, they’ve had their own off-field issues to manage this season. Earlier this month, two Bulldogs-offensive lineman Dontrell Glover and running back Bo Walker-were arrested on misdemeanor shoplifting charges. It’s not the kind of distraction any program wants heading into the biggest games of the year, especially with national title hopes on the line.
Whether or not Core suits up on January 1, Ole Miss will need to be locked in. Georgia’s offense presents one of the toughest challenges in the country, and every piece of the Rebels’ defensive unit will be critical. For now, the team is left to navigate the fallout of Core’s arrest while preparing for one of the most important games in recent program history.