After Georgia Bulldogs’ Rara Thomas Is Dismissed, What Does The Seasson Hold For The Team?

Georgia Bulldogs receiver Rara Thomas was dismissed from UGA football after being arrested last month on a felony charge of cruelty to children and two misdemeanor charges of battery.

“I had a chance to sit down and meet with him face-to-face Tuesday, which I think was really important to let him know he can no longer be part of the football team,” Coach Kirby Smart said earlier this month. “He understands that. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

UGA wideout was arrested in January 2023 on a charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor of family violence. Prosecutors later dismissed those charges.

“The incidents that have been happening off the field are not something we condone,” Coach Kirby Smart said during the SEC Media Days.

What will Thomas’ absence mean for the team? Despite Georgia’s strength as a wide receiver, Thomas was supposed to be a crucial piece of the Bulldogs’ offense as he was expected to play alongside Colbie Young on the outside. Thomas spent two seasons in Starkville with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he caught 12 touchdowns and 62 catches for 878 receiving yards. The receiver entered the transfer portal in 2023, landing in Athens, Georgia, to represent UGA’s squad – he caught 23 passes for 383 yards and one touchdown.

UGA’s 2024 schedule is considered one of the most challenging in program history. Georgia faces Clemson in week one, Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Texas, Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Those matchups alone are gauntlets, as each team has the potential to be high in the rankings.