Georgia wide receiver Rara Thomas arrested on multiple counts

Early Friday morning, Georgia starting wide receiver Rara Thomas was arrested on two counts of misdemeanor battery, and one count of felony second-degree cruelty to children. 

The presumptive national championship favorites have had quite a turbulent offseason in Athens. Kirby Smart’s team has had three players arrested for either DUI or reckless driving, Trevor Etienne, Smael Mondon Jr. and Bo Hughley, and now Thomas’s arrest a week after Smart addressed the driving-related incidents at SEC Media Days and said he was “pleased with our process.”

Thomas was reportedly arrested by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and is awaiting a bond hearing. He was booked in the jail at 3:20 a.m. ET. 

The senior wide receiver caught 23 passes for 383 yards and one touchdown last season, his first with Georgia after two seasons at Mississippi State. Thomas was a prized recruit out of the transfer portal two years ago and with the departure of Ladd McConkey and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint for the NFL, was expected to have an increased role for the Bulldogs, who are looking to win their third national championship in four years. 

Georgia has one of the most difficult schedules in the country this season and begins the year against Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Bulldogs will likely have Etienne and Mondon on the field for that one, but now could be without Thomas. 

This offseason, Smart added Colbie Young from Miami and London Humphreys from Vanderbilt as depth at the wide receiver position, and now that depth could be tested.