Details available regarding Georgia WR Rara Thomas' arrest
A few details are now available surrounding the arrest of Georgia wideout Rara Thomas on Monday morning. According the arrest warrant, Thomas was taken into custody due on the charge of one misdemeanor account of batter and one felony account of false imprisonment.
Thomas allegedly caused physical harm to a female that left her with a bruise on her bicep and abrasions to her shins. The false imprisonment count, according to the document, is because Thomas stood in front of her dorm room and told her that she could not leave.
University of Georgia Police arrested Thomas, who was booked into the Athens-Clarke County jail at just after 4 a.m. ET. A bond of $1,850 was posted at almost 12:35 p.m. ET. UGA released a statement not long after Thomas posted bail.
“We are aware of a reported incident involving conduct by one of our student-athletes. While we are limited in what we can say about the incident, the report is disappointing and not reflective of the high standards we have for our student-athletes on and off the field. In addition to following internal Athletic Association policies, we will be working closely with our administration to ensure we cooperate fully with all law enforcement and campus protocols.”
Georgia added Thomas to its roster in December after he elected to transfer from Mississippi State after two seasons. He’s one of two transfer wideouts added by Georgia at that time. The other being former Dominick Lovett from Missouri. Thomas chose Georgia over Auburn, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
Thomas was Mississippi State’s leading receiver in 2022. He caught 44 passes for 626 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bulldogs. UGA made him a target quickly after he entered the portal. Thomas visited campus in December and trusted sources told DawgsHQ that his recruitment was essentially over at that point.
The addition of Thomas and Lovett had Georgia fans quite excited. It was also welcome for receivers coach Bryan McClendon, who told DawgsHQ at Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl media day that the Bulldogs had “hit the jackpot” in adding those two players.
“The biggest thing you have to have when it comes to conversations is, ‘hey man, we’ve got a really good culture here,’ McClendon said. “Kind of establishing what our culture is and that it’s more of a team vs. me type of deal and that’s not real common in today’s society, period. Just kind of knowing that and explaining that and learning that those guys want it. They’re wanting that and embracing that and wanting to come and wanting to be a part of some special things. I feel like that helped a bunch, too.”
