Former Texas Longhorns linebacker S'Maje Burrell is now facing a felony charge for a collision that also enveloped T'Vondre Sweat, a fellow player and recent NFL draftee, in legal trouble. According to an affidavit obtained by CBS Austin, the crash occurred on April 7 near Howard and Parmer Lane on North Interstate 35, and Burrell has been charged with collision involving injury—a third-degree felony.
The incident left Sweat—a recent Tennessee Titans second-round draft pick—charged with DWI. A Ford Bronco, driven by Sweat, was struck from behind by a 2020 Dodge Charger allegedly driven by Burrell, who fled the scene post-collision. The aftermath of the hit inflicted minor injuries on Sweat, who had to spend several days recuperating. Witnesses assisted Austin police in identifying Burrell as the culprit, Burnt Orange Nation reported.
Adding further drama to the road mishap, the same reports state that a witness, who was in the passenger seat of Burrell's Charger, indicated Burrell may have been intoxicated at the time of the incident. Added to that, when the police encountered Sweat, they noted an odor of burnt marijuana, and he displayed signs of impairment including glassy eyes and poor balance. He admitted to consuming several shots of tequila, and his subsequent failed sobriety tests showed a breath sample registering at .105 — above the legal .08 limit, the affidavit also states.
While Burrell may have abandoned the crash site, he was not at large indefinitely. Over 12 hours after the crash occurred, his father, a Fort Worth Police Department officer, notified the Austin police. Following his involvement in the crash and subsequent suspension from the team, Burrell announced his entry into the NCAA transfer portal. As a sought-after linebacker from Fort Worth North Crowley, Burrell was the No. 29 linebacker nationwide—a ranking accorded by the 247Sports Composite—opting for Texas over multiple prestigious offers. "We’re aware of the situation involving S’Maje Burrell and have suspended him indefinitely from all team activities for conduct detrimental to the program," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said in a statement released by the school, Burnt Orange Nation report. Meanwhile, Sweat's budding professional career hangs in the balance as he grapples with the DWI charge.
Burrell's charge arrives as an unwelcome blemish for the Longhorns' alumni and fans, opening a complex debate on the responsibilities of athletes off the field. While no arrest has yet been made, the charges Burrell faces carry the possibility of a five-year prison sentence, muddying the waters for his athletic and personal future.
