Wide receiver transfer Rodarius “Rara” Thomas has had “zero issues on or off the field” since joining the Troy football program over the summer, head coach Gerad Parker said Tuesday.

Thomas, a Eufaula native, signed with the Trojans in the spring after being dismissed from the team at Georgia following multiple arrests. He was sentenced to two years of probation after reaching a plea deal in a family violence case in March.

“He’s been quiet when he’s needed to be quiet and just learned what it is to be a part of our culture and our team,” Parker told AL.com at Sun Belt Conference Media Days in New Orleans. “And he’s brought also some leadership stuff where he’s pushed some guys, and brought a confidence to the room with the wide outs and things because guys, they know his talent level and what he’s been.

“But he’s also been awesome. He’s had zero issues on or off the field in any of our offseason workouts and those things. He’s showed up on time, been about his business, been great in the classroom. And he’s got his body back in shape, which has taken some time because he’s certainly been away from it for a little bit. So it’s been good to see. … Everything is as advertised in his talent level. He’s learning the place and learning his body in a new place. But it’s been a breath of fresh air that he’s also managed himself like a veteran.”

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Thomas is expected to be a major part of Troy’s offense in 2024 after All-Sun Belt receiver Devonte Ross transferred to Penn State and former standout Chris Lewis was forced to give up football following cancer treatments. Thomas played his first two seasons of college football at Mississippi State before transferring to Georgia, and has totaled 85 receptions for 1,261 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career.

Upon signing Thomas in March, the Troy athletic department released a statement that it was “confident in the detailed plan that has been laid out for him to be successful in life and on the field as a Troy Trojan.” Among those put in place to serve as mentors are high school coach Ed Rigby (husband of Troy women’s basketball coach Chanda Rigby) and former Troy and NFL wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan.

Troy quarterback Goose Crowder has worked closely with Thomas, along with the other receivers, during summer workouts. Crowder said Tuesday that Thomas has “been awesome, a great locker room guy.”

“He’s been phenomenal just coming in and meshing with the culture,” Crowder said. “You could sense his veteran leadership. He’s played a lot of big-time football in big stadiums, so his input is always appreciated. There’s been no ego, none of that. It’s been all about how he and everybody else can help everybody to be better. Honestly, we’re better because of it.”

One player Crowder said he definitely will miss is Lewis, whom he has known since his youth football days in the Birmingham area. The 6-foot-4 Lewis — who led the Sun Belt Conference with 10 touchdown catches in 2023 — had hoped to return this fall after sitting out last season, but was forced to medically retire from football in June after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor from his left leg and enduring several rounds of subsequent treatment.

“Me and C-Lew, we played park ball against each other growing up,” Crowder said. “He went to Pleasant Grove, I’m from Gardendale. So I’ve known him for a long time before I got to join up with him at Troy. But yeah, it does suck.

“He’s a phenomenal player, but he’s a better person. He’s really easy to talk to and down to earth. I hate it for him and I’m just praying for him and his family.”