Georgia’s football team commenced practice on Thursday without wide receiver Rara Thomas, who has been dismissed following his arrest on charges of cruelty to children and battery.
Coach Kirby Smart met with Thomas on Tuesday to inform him of the decision. “I had a chance to sit down and meet with him face to face on Tuesday which I think was really important to let him know he can no longer be a part of the football team,” Smart said. “He understands that and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Thomas was arrested early Friday on felony charges of cruelty to children and misdemeanor battery. Following his arrest, Georgia announced his indefinite suspension. The announcement on Thursday confirmed Thomas’ permanent removal from the team. He was released on a $3,500 bond on Tuesday.
Last season, Thomas had 23 catches for 383 yards and one touchdown, ranking as one of the leading returning targets for quarterback Carson Beck.
This marks the second arrest for Thomas in two years. Previously, he was arrested on January 23, 2023, by University of Georgia police on a felony charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of family violence battery. Those charges were dropped after Thomas entered a pretrial diversion program. The recent charges are also considered family violence offenses.
Georgia was voted as the favorite to win the Southeastern Conference at the SEC media days on July 19. The team had six preseason first-team All-SEC picks, including Beck, running back Trevor Etienne, offensive lineman Tate Ratledge, defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse, linebacker Mykel Williams, and defensive back Malaki Starks. However, the preseason first-team picks did not include a receiver. The loss of Thomas leaves a gap in the receiver lineup following the departures of tight end Brock Bowers and wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. Seniors Dominic Lovett and Arian Smith return as veteran wide receivers.
“We have depth at the top,” Smart said. “I think we’ve got to find more guys that can contribute in that room. I’m fired up about that group because we’ve got a good group of protectors around them, a good quarterback to get them the ball, and a good group of tight ends.”
Additionally, Smart addressed repeated driving offenses by his players, stating that players have been suspended and fined through the collective that provides name, image, and likeness payments to the school’s athletes. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia players have been involved in 24 driving-related violations, including a crash that killed a player and a recruiting staffer in January 2023. Offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy were killed in the crash on January 15, 2023, shortly after the Bulldogs won the national title game.
The Bulldogs are set to open their season against Clemson on August 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
