Kirby Smart’s got a lot on his plate right now. On one hand, he’s building a championship roster with his Georgia team. On the other, the team’s ‘crime culture’ has taken center stage. 

Over a dozen Bulldogs players have been arrested for DUI and reckless speeding over the days. But things took an even uglier turn when standout wide receiver Rara Thomas, was arrested this August for battery and second-degree assault. And as expected, the Bulldogs opened their practice session this Thursday without their senior wide receiver.

Now, losing Thomas is sure a big blow for the Bulldogs heading into this SEC season. However, the host of UGA Football on Dawg Post pointed out some pros and cons. “The good news about losing RaRa is he was not overly productive a season ago. The bad news is, he could have been productive in 2024,” he noted. This holds true as Thomas recorded just one touchdown, 23 catches, and 383 yards last year. Though the team went near playoffs and managed a 13-1 season, his role was hardly significant. 

The host added, “But you just cannot have that kind of action in your organization. It’s unacceptable,” showing support for the decision to remove Thomas. Now, Smart also understands the pressure his team would face if they retained Thomas. He made the wise decision to remove him while handling the situation like a pro. “I had a chance to sit down and meet with him face to face, which I think was really important to let him know he can no longer be a part of the football program,” Smart said, wishing Thomas good luck. With Thomas gone, the team has to move on and focus on the guys who are still there. 

Kirby Smart’s receiver room is stacked

Now that Rara is gone, what’s next for Kirby Smart? The head coach sure had a plan in place before dismissing his senior WR. “Well, we’ve got a lot of guys that are pass catchers back,” Kirby told the press after announcing Rara’s dismissal. It’s said that 3-star talent Rara will be replaced by the new 4-star talent Colbie Young.

This former Miami Hurricanes receiver has caught 79 passes for almost 1,000 yards and scored 10 touchdowns last year. Even Dawg 247 Podcast host Jordan Hill is impressed with this offensive talent and thinks he can be better than Rara. “I still think that even if Rara was here that Colbie Young might have surpassed him,” he said. Now, the 6 foot 3 ‘giant’ Young is a tough matchup for any defender. Even the UGA’s defensive guys are talking him up. Julian Humphrey, one of their defensive backs, says, “He’s a big guy, he’s really going to be a big piece of us for this fall.”

Looks like the team’s fall camp is heading toward a positive change. Along with Young, the receivers’ room boasts other talents like London Humphreys and Michael Jackson III, all committed to the Bulldogs this year. Let’s see who Kirby Smart chooses to replace his senior talent!