Reese Alleges Smart Manipulated Him at UGA

Ole Miss defensive back, Otis Reese is still waiting on to hear from the NCAA and the SEC if he will be allowed to play this season after transferring from Georgia to Ole Miss this offseason. Reese has publicly criticized his former school and coach while he's stuck in limbo, waiting on a decision from both governing bodies.

Reese alleges a culture of racism in Athens and said that Kirby Smart "manipulated" him into staying with the Bulldogs program after he had expressed his desire to leave Athens. Reese says Smart told him he would advocate on his behalf with the NCAA to expedite his transfer and recommend he receive immediate eligibility.

Reese, a defensive back out of Lee County High School from Leesburg, GA. He joined the Bulldogs as a four-star recruit and saw playing time in nine games across his first two seasons, totaling 16 tackles.

Reese writes that during his time in Athens he was pulled over twice and was unlawfully harassed by police officers during the traffic stops. Reese was given tickets for each stop but was told there was no body camera footage available when he asked for it from the precinct.

The defensive back also alleges that he and a teammate were called a racial slur by a white student athlete without repercussion. Reese expressed frustration with the situation, writing that there was no one to talk to about this incident.

Reese tagged the NCAA, SEC and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey in his letter, appealing for a decision on his eligibility. '

Reese concluded his letter by complimenting Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin on his work to change the perceptions and the culture concerning race relations in Oxford.

This is the second University of Georgia transfer to allege racial issues in the recent years after Justin Fields made similar allegations when he transferred from Georgia to Ohio State.