Georgia wide receiver Rodarius “Rara” Thomas has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest on charges of cruelty to children and battery early Friday, adding to the team’s recent legal issues.
Athens-Clarke County jail records indicate Thomas was booked at 3:20 a.m. on felony charges of cruelty to children and misdemeanor battery charges. As of Friday afternoon, bail had not been set.
This marks Thomas’s second arrest in two years. Previously, Thomas, a transfer from Mississippi State, was arrested by University of Georgia police on January 23, 2023, on a felony charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of family violence battery. These charges were later dropped when Thomas entered a pretrial diversion program.
Details on the recent arrest, also involving family violence offenses, have not been disclosed.
In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Georgia’s executive associate athletic director for strategic communications, Steven Drummond, said, “This is a pending legal matter. We will have no further comment at this point.”
Georgia coach Kirby Smart addressed the issue of repeated driving offenses by his players during the Southeastern Conference media days on July 16. Smart mentioned that players have faced suspensions and fines through the collective that handles name, image, and likeness payments to the school’s athletes. Smart’s policy is to refrain from making public announcements regarding player suspensions. However, a team official confirmed Thomas’s suspension.
Thomas is unlikely to be available when the Bulldogs start their season against Clemson on August 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Georgia players have been involved in 24 driving-related violations, including DUI, reckless driving, or speeding, according to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. These incidents include a crash that resulted in the deaths of a player and a recruiting staffer in January 2023.
“The incidents that have been happening off the field are not something we condone,” Smart said at the SEC media days. “It’s very unfortunate, disappointing, I guess is the best word.”
On January 15, 2023, Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy were killed in a car crash, just days after the Bulldogs secured the national title.
