Georgia announces dismissal of WR Rara Thomas following arrest

Georgia opened practice on Thursday without wide receiver Rara Thomas, who has been dismissed from the team following his arrest on charges of cruelty to children and battery.

Coach Kirby Smart said before Thursday's practice he met with Thomas on Tuesday and informed the junior of the decision.

Thomas was arrested early Friday on felony charges of cruelty to children and misdemeanor battery charges. Georgia announced later Friday that Thomas was indefinitely suspended. Thursday's announcement made the removal of Thomas from the team permanent.

Thomas was released on $3,500 bond Tuesday.

"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 had 23 catches for 383 yards and one touchdown last season and ranked as one of the team's leading returning targets for quarterback Carson Beck.

It is the second arrest for Thomas in two years. Thomas, a transfer from Mississippi State, was arrested by University of Georgia police on Jan. 23, 2023, on a felony charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of family violence battery. The charges were dropped when Thomas entered a pretrial diversion program.

The latest charges are also regarded as family violence offenses.

Georgia was voted at the Southeastern Conference media days on July 19 as the favorite to win the league.

Georgia 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.

The preseason