Rodarius “Rara” Thomas, a wide receiver for the Georgia Bulldogs, will be away from the team for an indefinite period following his arrest early Friday morning. According to Athens-Clarke County jail records, Thomas was booked around 3:20 a.m. on charges of cruelty to children and battery. He is currently being held without bail.
Thomas’ arrest adds to a series of legal issues for the Georgia football team in recent months. This is Thomas’ second arrest in the past 18 months. He was previously arrested in January 2023 on felony charges of false imprisonment and misdemeanor family violence battery, but those charges were dropped after he completed a pretrial diversion program.
Details about Friday’s arrest are still unclear. Georgia Athletic Association spokesperson Steven Drummond stated that the situation is a legal matter and declined further comment.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart addressed player conduct at the Southeastern Conference media days on July 16, discussing efforts to manage repeated driving offenses among players. Smart emphasized that his policy is to avoid publicizing player suspensions and instead focus on education and growth.
The Bulldogs are set to start their season against the Clemson Tigers in Atlanta on August 31.
Recent reports indicate that Georgia players have been involved in 24 driving-related violations, including a tragic crash in January 2023 that resulted in the deaths of offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy.
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