Georgia Dismisses Rara Thomas After Arrest

© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

It appears that Rara Thomas' days as a Georgia Bulldog are over.

On Thursday morning, On3 Sports reported that Thomas is no longer with the team, and was dismissed by head coach Kirby Smart earlier in the day. Thursday marks the first preseason practice for the Bulldogs, who are looking to win their third national championship in four years.

Thomas was initially arrested on July 26, charged with two counts of battery and one count of child cruelty. Thomas' arrest was just the latest in a long line of missteps for Georgia players. One month after Thomas transferred to Athens, Ga., he was arrested on a count of family violence, though the charge was dropped.

Rara Thomas Joins Long List

Thomas' arrest comes after more than 20 other Georgia players have been involved in charges related to driving violations.

If there is a culture problem at Georgia—and there seems to be one—Smart must address it before worrying about on-field play.

What Losing Thomas Means

Of course, Thomas' arrest is a far bigger issue than his production as a wide receiver. How much will his absence impact the Bulldogs' offense? Thomas showed flashes of brilliance at Mississippi State, but regressed in 2023.

In his first season at Georgia, Thomas only caught 23 passes for 383 yards and 1 touchdown. Those numbers were down significantly from his breakout 2022 campaign, in which he caught 44 passes for 626 yards and 7 scores. With a year under his belt at Georgia, however, it was expected that he'd have a more significant role in their offense. Now, Thomas' potential impact is empty speculation.

© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia plays its first game this season in Atlanta against Clemson on Aug. 31. Their first home game will take place on Sept. 7 against Tennessee Tech. The Bulldogs' Southeastern Conference schedule is highlighted by matchups with Alabama, Auburn, Texas, Florida and Tennessee.

Georgia is coming off a 13-1 season in 2023, where the Bulldogs' lone loss in the SEC Championship game against Alabama knocked them out of a provisional playoff spot. The Bulldogs closed their 2023 season with a 63-3 win over Florida State in the Capital One Orange Bowl.