Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Rodarius Thomas, aka “Lala” Thomas, was arrested at 3:20 a.m. on July 26 on suspicion of three counts of second-degree child abuse and three counts of assault (FV).
According to Athens-Clarke County arrest records, no bail has been set at this time. Further details about the case have not yet been released. University of Georgia Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications Steven Drummond released a short statement:
“This is an ongoing legal matter. We will not be making any further comment at this time.” Drummond said.
This isn't Thomas' first brush with the law during his time in Athens. The wide receiver was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and false imprisonment in January 2023. However, those charges were ultimately dropped and Thomas faced no legal consequences.
A former four-star recruit out of Eufaula, Alabama, Thomas joined the Bulldogs through the transfer portal prior to the 2023 season and was a major contributor at his former team, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. During his 2023 campaign with the Dawgs, Thomas appeared in 11 games and recorded 383 receiving yards and one touchdown on 23 catches. The wide receiver was expected to contribute more to the Bulldogs' offense in 2024, especially with the departures of pass catchers such as Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers, but his future with the program is now in question.
News of Thomas' arrest continues an unfortunate trend of arrests for the Bulldogs this year, during which the team has seen numerous players arrested, but the majority of arrests have been driving-related and not related to any form of physical assault.
Thomas' arrest comes less than a week before the Bulldogs open fall camp for the 2024 college football season. The Dawgs' 2024 season is considered by many to be one of the toughest schedules in Georgia history, as the Dawgs will face multiple top-10 teams on the road. Fall camp practices begin on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Georgia's first game of the 2024 season will be against the Clemson Tigers in Atlanta. This will be the Bulldogs' first meeting with the Tigers since the 2021 season opener, in which Georgia won the game defensively, 10-3. The Bulldogs ultimately won their first national title in 41 years and have not lost a regular season game in that time.
*This article will be updated with any further information regarding the incident.*
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