Once again, a Georgia football player’s presence in a downtown Athens bar led to unsolicited trouble.

According to the Athens Banner-Herald, senior linebacker Kosta Vavlas was punched in the face at Silver Dollar Bar on College Avenue early Sunday morning, several hours after the Bulldogs’ homecoming game against Vanderbilt.

Citing a police report, the newspaper reported that Vavlas was hit in the nose and mouth by an individual not known to him. Jeffery Cody Bradford, 23, was later identified by Vavlas, arrested for battery and booked into jail. Bradford was released Sunday on a $2,500 bond, according to Athens-Clarke County jail records.

The previous weekend, star tailback Todd Gurley was falsely accused of punching a man in a bar on Broad Street. A police investigation which included reviewing surveillance video proved another person struck the complaintant and that Gurley was not involved.

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Kennesaw State coach Jerry Mack celebrates with his players in the locker room after the 35-7 win over Louisiana Tech, Oct. 9, 2025. (Kennesaw State Athletics)

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