Tag: Rara Thomas

Looking at Georgia’s WR room after Rara Thomas’ dismissal

Evaluating the depth chart for the Georgia Bulldogs’ wide receiver room following Rara Thomas’ dismissal

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart announced that he dismissed wide receiver Rara Thomas from the Bullldogs’ program following his arrest.

Thomas’ dismissal is a significant loss to the Georgia wide receiver room. However, Georgia already has experienced what life is like without Thomas, who was limited this spring due to a foot injury. Despite this, Georgia will miss Thomas’ combination of production and experience.

Thomas is a versatile receiver that has to be accounted for at all three levels of the defense. In 2023, Thomas recorded 23 receptions for 383 receiving yards and one touchdown. Previously at Mississippi State in 2022, Thomas hauled in 44 receptions for 626 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Thomas’ loss emphasizes the importance of Georgia’s top returning receiver is Dominic Lovett, who made All-SEC third-team. The versatile Dillon Bell is Georgia’s No. 2 receiver and made the All-SEC team as an all-purpose player. Bell is Georgia’s best receiver with the ball in his hands and has previously played running back.

The No. 3 wide receiver on out depth chart was Thomas, but now it becomes Miami transfer Colbie Young. Young is probably Georgia’s best red zone threat at wide receiver and is relatively interchangeable on the depth chart with Arian Smith, who is Georgia’s fastest receiver. Smith provides a deep threat and made several explosive plays in spring practice.

Beyond Smith is sophomore Anthony Evans, who is very explosive and recorded the second-most receiving yards (75) of any Bulldog in Georgia’s spring game. Vanderbilt transfer London Humphreys and USC transfer Michael Jackson III round out the rotation of wide receivers that we expect to play consistently. Here’s our projected depth chart for Georgia’s wide receivers group.

  1. Dominic Lovett
  2. Dillon Bell
  3. Colbie Young
  4. Arian Smith
  5. Anthony Evans
  6. Michael Jackson III
  7. London Humphreys
  8. Cole Speer
  9. Nitro Tuggle
  10. Sacovie White

[lawrence-auto-related count=2] Georgia football begins the 2024 college football season against the Clemson Tigers in Atlanta on Aug. 31 at noon ET.

Georgia football WR dismissed from team

Georgia football senior wide receiver has been dismissed from the Bulldogs following his recent arrest

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Rara Thomas has been dismissed from the team. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart informed Thomas on Tuesday that he would no longer be part of the team after his arrest.

“He can no longer be part of the football team,” said Smart at his press conference to open fall camp. “He understands that. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Rara Thomas was suspended indefinitely following his arrest early on July 26 in Athens-Clarke County. Thomas was released on $3,500 bond on Tuesday. Thomas faces multiple charges including second-degree cruelty to children (family violence) and battery (family violence).

“According to an Athens-Clarke County police statement, police responded to a domestic violence call at 1:34 a.m. Friday on Mill Creek Way. Police said the domestic violence was against Thomas’ child,” wrote Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald. “Thomas was charged and booked into the Clarke County jail. Thomas’ booking occurred at 3:20 a.m.; he was still held at the jail Friday afternoon.”

Thomas, who was arrested in 2023, transferred to Georgia from Mississippi State. Thomas’ 2023 felony and misdemeanor charges were later dismissed.

Thomas was expected to be one of Georgia’s top receivers in 2024, but now Georgia will be without the former Mississippi State transfer. In 2023, Thomas recorded 23 receptions for 383 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Georgia WR suspended indefinitely after arrest

Georgia football senior wide receiver Rara Thomas has reportedly been suspended indefinitely after his recent arrest

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Rara Thomas has reportedly been suspended indefinitely following his arrest early on July 26 in Athens-Clarke County. He is being held without bail.

Thomas faces multiple charges including second-degree cruelty to children (family violence) and battery (family violence).

“According to an Athens-Clarke County police statement, police responded to a domestic violence call at 1:34 a.m. Friday on Mill Creek Way. Police said the domestic violence was against Thomas’ child,” wrote Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald. “Thomas was charged and booked into the Clarke County jail. Thomas’ booking occurred at 3:20 a.m.; he was still held at the jail Friday afternoon.”

Thomas, who was arrested in 2023, transferred to Georgia from Mississippi State. Thomas’ 2023 felony and misdemeanor charges were later dismissed.

Thomas was expected to be one of Georgia’s top receivers in 2024, but his arrest and subsequent suspension mean his future with the team is unclear. In 2023, Thomas recorded 23 receptions for 383 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Georgia WR Rara Thomas arrested in Athens-Clarke county

Georgia football senior wide receiver Rara Thomas was arrested on July 26 on multiple charges

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Rara Thomas was arrested at 3:20 a.m. ET on July 26. Thomas was arrested for multiple counts in Athens-Clarke County.

As of 10:30 a.m. ET on July 26, Thomas has not been released.

Thomas’ charges include cruelty to children (second-degree) which is a felony and battery (family violence), which is a misdemeanor. Details are still emerging after Thomas’ arrest.

Thomas, who was arrested in 2023, transferred to Georgia from Mississippi State during the 2023 offseason. Thomas’ 2023 felony charges were later dismissed.

Thomas was projected to be one of Georgia’s top receivers in 2024, but his recent arrest makes his future with the Georgia football team a bit more murky. Last season, Thomas recorded 23 receptions for 383 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has made it abundantly clear that he issues suspensions internally and does not announce them to the media.

“We don’t talk about the suspensions,” said Smart at SEC media days. “We have them. I think it’s pretty obvious that we’ve done them in the past. You guys know when we do them. Each of those cases is very different and they’ll be handled in different ways.”

Transfer receivers are making a difference for the Bulldogs

The UGA football passing offense has had some questions but Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas have helped answer those.

The Georgia Bulldogs have seen multiple receivers leave the program over the past couple of seasons with Jermain Burton going to Alabama and Adonai Mitchell going to Texas. Those guys are having good years, but the transfers the Bulldogs have taken in have done great work as well.

Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas have been welcome additions to the Georgia passing game with productive years so far. The Dawgs’ passing game was a bit of a concern with these new guys coming in and Carson Beck at the helm, but a dominant win over Kentucky has quieted a lot of critics.

Lovett, the Missouri transfer, started off the season battling for the No. 1 wide receiver spot as Ladd McConkey was out early in the year. He’s become the reliable hands target over the middle of the field and he’s compiled 22 catches for 210 yards.

Thomas, the Mississippi State transfer, had his best game as Bulldog against Kentucky with an incredible toe tap touchdown. He’s found his niche as a big play threat with a talent for high-pointing the ball. Thomas has caught 14 balls for 230 yards and one touchdown.

Although Bowers and McConkey are the names that fans will recognize catching the ball, Lovett and Thomas have quietly found themselves as consistent receivers in the fold and they could become X-factors as the Bulldogs face off against tougher foes in late October and November.

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Additionally, Georgia may look to the transfer portal again to replenish the wide receiver room as the Bulldogs have just two commitments from wide receivers in the class of 2024.

Insight on Georgia WRs Dominic Lovett, Rara Thomas by former SEC teammates

Former SEC teammates talk Dominic Lovett, Rara Thomas at SEC Media Days…

Georgia’s offense dipped into the transfer portal this offseason for two SEC wide receivers in Dominic Lovett (Missouri) and Rara Thomas (Mississippi State).

Both Lovett and Thomas led their respective teams in receiving last season and already know what it takes to make plays in the toughest conference in college football.

Missouri junior defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine praised former teammate Lovett at SEC Media Days this week.

“He’s going to push you. He’s a great athlete himself. Going against somebody that is already good is going to make you better.”

Abrams-Draine recalls going up against Lovett everyday in practice.

“I think it was like his first practice or something and I had just gotten to DB so we had been friends but we were going at it the whole practice. I wasn’t going against nobody else but him. “I feel like that made us come closer as friends … It’s going to be way different (going up against him in a game) because it counts. Practice counts too but this shows on our record. We’re going to compete and keep it how we’re supposed to, but we’re going to compete.”

Lovett, an All-SEC selection, racked up 56 catches for 846 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. The former four-star recruit led the Tigers receiving yards each of the first five games of the season, the only player to accomplish that in program history.

“Yeah, there’s no replacing Dominic Lovett,” Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “Dominic Lovett is his own player and has his own unique characteristics and competitive spirit, and wish him the best in his new opportunity.”

Up next is Thomas, who was commended by Mississippi State star quarterback Will Rodgers.

“It was special. We were kind of on the same page with some things,” Rogers said. “Anytime he got man-to-man coverage, we were trying to get him the ball. He does a really good job and I hope he succeeds at Georgia.”

Thomas and Rodgers were a playmaking machine in 2022. The duo connected for 626 yards on 44 completions with seven scores.

“He’s just raw talent, man,” Rogers said. “I don’t think he started playing football until he was a junior in high school maybe, but his ball skills are out of this world and he can go make a play for sure.”

The Bulldogs will need Lovett and Thomas to help replace the production lost from Texas transfer Adonai Mitchell, Georgia Tech transfer Dominick Blaylock and Kearis Jackson, who is now a Tennessee Titan.

Having experienced SEC wideouts should help whoever is tabbed as starting quarterback this fall.

 

 

Early list of the top 2024 NFL draft prospects to watch at key positions

Wer’e taking an early look at the top 2024 NFL draft prospects for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch at key positions

The Eagles are just 22 days from the start of training camp, but it is never too early to look at the 2024 NFL draft.

Next spring will see guaranteed locks like Heisman Trophy Winner Caleb Williams (USC), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Drake Maye (UNC), Joe Alt (Notre Dame), Brock Bowers (UGA), and Olumuviwa Fashanu (Penn State) all battle to round out the top five.

With teams around the league praying to be on the clock, here’s an early of the top 2024 prospects at critical positions.

Three Georgia players make College Sports Wire’s list of best SEC WRs for 2023

SEC WR rankings have three Georgia players ranked inside the top-ten

Despite losing George Pickens, Jermaine Burton and AD Mitchell in recent years to either the NFL draft or the NCAA transfer portal, the Georgia Bulldogs are loaded up at the wide receiver position heading into the 2023 season.

Georgia returns Ladd McConkey, who is entering his redshirt junior year in Athens. He was the team’s leading wide receiver last year with 762 yards and nine total touchdowns.

After a 2022 offseason that saw Georgia stay inactive in the transfer portal, Kirby Smart took a different approach in 2023. UGA went and signed two standout receivers from the portal: Dominic Lovett from Missouri and Rara Thomas from Mississippi State.

College Sports Wire released its ranking of the top 12 SEC wide receivers for the 2023 college football season and included Lovett, McConkey and Thomas.

Lovett checked in at No. 4, McConkey No. 6 and Thomas at No. 8 to give Georgia three of the top 10 wide receivers in the SEC this year.

Oh, and this does not include tight end Brock Bowers, who is without a doubt the best pass-catcher in the conference entering 2023.

Regarding Lovett, Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire wrote:

Lovett finished No. 8 in receiving yards last season with Missouri. Now as he heads to Georgia, the former Tigers wide receiver is expected to be the top receiver for the Bulldogs. He and tight end Brock Bowers should command a lot of attention in the passing game. New quarterback Carson Beck should have an easier time getting acclimated due to having this duo on his team. Ladd McConkey also finished among the top 10 in yards last season.

Lovett’s 2022 stats: 56 catches, 846 yards, 3 touchdowns

On McConkey:

McConkey was a key member of the last two national championship teams in Athens. He hauled in 5 passes for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 2022-23 national title game against TCU. He returns along with Brock Bowers to team up with newcomers RaRa Thomas and Dominic Lovett. The Bulldogs should have an explosive offense in the upcoming season.

McConkey’s 2022 stats: 58 catches, 762 yards, 9 total touchdowns

And on Thomas:

Thomas, much like Lovett, leaves one SEC team to team up with the two-time defending national champions. Thomas has already dealt with offseason issues after being arrested this offseason. An epidemic that has seemed to spread across the Bulldogs team. If he can put that behind him, Thomas should be a key contributor for Georgia. He didn’t play a snap in the spring game and head coach Kirby Smart stated he “has some things to work on.” We shall see if he gets that sorted out ahead of the 2023 college football season, but Thomas has the talent to be an impact playmaker.

Thomas’ 2022 stats: 44 catches, 626 yards, 7 touchdowns

Full list of Eagles’ 2024 NFL draft picks with projected compensatory selections

We’re looking at the Philadelphia Eagles’ complete order of 2024 NFL draft picks with compensatory projections.

The Eagles made several critical signings during the 2023 NFL free agency process, with all of the additions being one-year deals.

Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman watched ten contributors leave on the open market.

Thanks to his shrewd maneuvering and roster building, the Eagles are in line for four valuable compensatory picks in 2024, according to NFL.com draft expert, Lance Zierlein.

The Eagles played the compensatory pick game perfectly. They knew they would have a large number of players depart in free agency, and they didn’t add any projected qualifying free agents to the team. Philadelphia should receive the maximum number of picks, including a third-rounder for Hargrave.

The Birds were slated to have six picks in the 2024 NFL draft, but thanks to the compensatory formula, they’ll have 10.

Here’s an early look at the Eagles’ 2024 NFL draft picks.

Eagles stick to the motto of reloading the trenches in early 2024 NFL mock drafts

Philadelphia will likely reload in the trenches, while some experts have the Eagles targeting other critical positions in early 2024 NFL mock drafts

The 2023 NFL draft is complete, and as teams add undrafted free agents, the experts are looking ahead to the 2024 selection process.

Next spring will see guaranteed locks like Heisman Trophy Winner Caleb Williams (USC), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Ohio State), Drake Maye (UNC), Joe Alt (Notre Dame), Brock Bowers (UGA), and Olumuviwa Fashanu (Penn State) all battle to round out the top five.

With teams around the league praying to be on the clock, here’s an early 2024 NFL mock draft roundup.