Jalen Carter as Georgia star selected as No. 9 overall pick by Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 NFL Draft

Disputed Georgia star Jalen Carter was finally selected by the Philadelphia Eagles as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2023 Draft nearly two months after the defensive tackle was sued for reckless driving.

Carter, 21, entered a plea after being booked on March 1 for reckless driving and racing in connection with the car crash that killed his teammate Devin Willock and Bulldogs staffer Chandler LeCroy.

Carter was once projected as a high pick in the first round, but was stumbled after a disappointing pro day and his guilty plea to reckless driving.

However, his college football career with Georgia, during which he helped the Bulldogs to back-to-back titles, appears to have been enough for the Super Bowl runners-up, the Eagles, to take him.

The 21-year-old will not serve jail time after pleading guilty to the felony related to the fatal car crash on January 15 that killed Willock and LeCroy. Instead, he received 12 months’ probation, a $1,000 fine, 80 hours of community service, and mandatory driver training.

The former top draft prospect was booked in early March for reckless driving in Athens

The crash in January killed football player Devin Willock and staffer Chandler LeCroy of Georgia

“They just get the best person in the service,” Carter said.

Carter was considered the best defensive lineman in the class this year, but the crash and its aftermath may have played a role in his drop to the NFC Champion Eagles.

Carter missed part of the scout group in Indianapolis while turning himself in to the Athens Police Department on a reckless driving charge, only hurting himself more at last week’s Georgia Pro Day.

Not only had he gained nine pounds since the recon group, but he also failed to complete several exercises and refused to participate in other events.

But the main problem remains Carter’s link to the deadly crash, with police saying he was “racing at high speed” through the streets of Athens before LeCroy crashed into a school vehicle, killing himself and Willock and injuring two others.

It has since been revealed that Carter was previously pulled over and ticketed for speeding on September 22, 2022.

The Eagles were busy on draft night and surrendered the number 10 pick to take Carter. They may have gotten a bargain if he has no further problems off the field. He could end up like Warren Sapp and Randy Moss, who became stars after their draft position was dropped.

In addition to LeCroy, 24, a Bulldogs recruiting coordinator, and Willock, 20, a promising offensive lineman, another recruiting assistant, Tory Bowles, 26, and Warren McClendon, 21, were also injured in the wreckage of January 15

He couldn’t finish positional drills, having outweighed the NFL combined by nine pounds last month

But the embattled star insisted Philadelphia ‘get the best person in the draft’

Defensive lineman greeted Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected

The Eagles have four picks in the top 70, including another first-round pick at No. 30. Philadelphia acquired its previous first-round pick in a deal with New Orleans last season. The Eagles also have picks in the second round (No. 62) and third round (66). Philadelphia has only two other picks, both in the seventh round.

The Eagles advanced in the third round on draft night thanks to a settlement with Arizona after the Cardinals made unauthorized contact last January during their search for head coaching.

The Cardinals themselves reported to the NFL that general manager Monti Ossenfort had a phone conversation with former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon in the days following the NFC Championship game, a period when no contact is allowed under the NFL’s sabotage policy.

To settle the matter, the Cardinals and Eagles agreed to trade third round picks and Arizona received the fifth round pick from Philadelphia in 2024.