AP NEWS TEST SITE
Listen
Related topics

Georgia football transfer Thomas arrested on felony charge

January 23, 2023 GMT
FILE - Then-Mississippi State wide receiver Rara Thomas (0) smiles after catching a pass for a touchdown against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Rodarius “Rara” Thomas, a wide receiver who recently transferred to Georgia from Mississippi State, was jailed early Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Athens, Ga., on a felony charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of family violence battery, according to Clarke County jail records. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
FILE - Then-Mississippi State wide receiver Rara Thomas (0) smiles after catching a pass for a touchdown against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Rodarius “Rara” Thomas, a wide receiver who recently transferred to Georgia from Mississippi State, was jailed early Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Athens, Ga., on a felony charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of family violence battery, according to Clarke County jail records. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A wide receiver who recently transferred to national champion Georgia from Mississippi State was arrested Monday on felony and misdemeanor charges.

Rodarius “Rara” Thomas was booked at around 4 a.m. on a felony charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of family violence battery, according to Clarke County jail records. He spent more than eight hours in jail before being released on $1,850 bond shortly after noon.

Jail records showed the 20-year-old Thomas was arrested by University of Georgia police. No other details were immediately available, and it was not known if Thomas had an attorney who could speak for him.

“We are aware of a reported incident involving conduct by one of our student-athletes,” the Georgia athletic department said in a statement. “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.”

The arrest of Thomas was another blow to a Georgia team that won its second second straight national championship with a 65-7 rout of TCU on Jan. 9.

A few hours after a celebratory parade through Athens and a ceremony at Sanford Stadium, offensive lineman Devin Willock and a member of the recruiting staff were killed in an early morning car wreck on Jan. 15. Excessive speed has been cited as one of the causes of the crash, which remains under investigation.

College football

  • Katin Houser accounts for 6 TDs to help ECU beat Florida Atlantic 49-14

  • Bennett has 3 TD runs, Vasko accounts for 2 scores, Coastal Carolina beats Appalachian State 38-24

  • Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit's popular dog, Ben, dies

  • Florida says coach Billy Napier on solid ground despite 15-18 record after promising signs

    • Thomas, who is from Eufaula, Alabama, was one of Mississippi State’s leading receivers this past season, with 44 catches for a team-high 626 yards and seven touchdowns.

    He announced his transfer to Georgia in December.

    Thomas has been projected to be key member of the Bulldogs’ offense after receiver Kearis Jackson declared for the NFL draft and receiver Adonai Adonai Mitchell entered the transfer portal.

    Mitchell, who has since committed to Texas, missed much of the 2022 season with a high ankle sprain. He returned to make the game-winning, 10-yard touchdown catch against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal and added a 22-yard touchdown catch against TCU in the title game.

    ___

    AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25

    All contents © copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.