Rara Thomas has resolved his legal issues, and the talented wide receiver will get another opportunity to play college football, this time in his home state.

The 22-year-old Eufaula native has signed with Troy, AL.com has confirmed. Thomas was dismissed from the team at Georgia in August following an arrest on charges related to family violence.

Troy athletics released the following statement to AL.com:

“After a thorough investigation of the incidents and a legal review of the facts, we have made the decision to accept Rara Thomas to the Troy Football program. The process included speaking directly with Rara Thomas, officials at the University of Georgia, his high school coach Ed Rigby, his mentor Jerrel Jernigan and others involved in Rara’s life. We are 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.”

Jerrel Jernigan is a former Troy wide receiver who played many years in the NFL. Ed Rigby is a longtime high school coach in the Wiregrass area (currently at Opp) and is also the husband of Troy women’s basketball coach Chanda Rigby.

Thomas, whose given name is Rodarius, was sentenced to two years of probation after reaching a plea deal in a family violence case last week in Athens, Ga. He entered what is known as an Alford plea, in which he did not admit guilt, but acknowledges the prosecution had enough evidence for a conviction, according to Fox 5 of Atlanta. Thomas was originally charged with second-degree cruelty to children and family violence battery, but avoided a felony conviction under Georgia’s first-offender law.

“I am happy that we were able to obtain this very favorable result for RaRa and look forward to seeing the great things Mr. Thomas does personally and professionally in the future,” Thomas’ attorney, Kim Stephens, said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta. “Mr. Thomas can’t wait to get back on the field doing what he loves.”

The details of Thomas’ July 26 arrest were not made public at the time due to the involvement of a juvenile (which turned out to be Thomas’ daughter), but the Athens Banner-Herald reported them following a grand jury indictment in November. Thomas was charged with battery/family violence against the mother of his child and leaving her with a “bloody nose, bloody split lip, a scrape to the chin and bruising to the neck … by punching her in the face.”

In addition, Thomas was charged with cruelty to children by causing “cruel physical pain by hitting said victim [his daughter] while battering her mother,” who was holding the child at the time. Thomas spent four days in jail before Georgia coach Kirby Smart dismissed him from the team on Aug. 1.

“He can no longer be part of the football team,” Smart said at the time. “He understands that. We wish him the best moving forward.”

Thomas was also arrested in January 2023 after being accused of false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery-family violence, though those charges were eventually dropped after he entered a pre-trial diversion program. He remained on the team at Georgia and played the entire 2023 season for the Bulldogs.

Thomas has not publicly confirmed his commitment to Troy, but did appear to acknowledge the resolution of his legal status on March 19 when he posted “God is good” on X.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Thomas played his first two seasons at Mississippi State, where he totaled 62 receptions for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021-22. He then transferred to Georgia, catching 23 passes for 383 yards and a touchdown in 2023 as a part-time starter.

Thomas will have one season of eligibility at Troy, which is currently in the middle of spring practice. He is expected to formally join the team over the summer.

Troy needs help at receiver after All-Sun Belt selection Devonte Ross — who caught 76 passes and for 11 touchdowns and led the conference in all-purpose yards in 2024 — transferred to Penn State. In addition, senior Chris Lewis — who led the Sun Belt with 10 touchdown catches in 2023 — is likely to miss a second straight season after undergoing cancer treatments.

Troy went 4-8 in 2024 under first-year coach Gerad Parker. The Trojans open the 2025 season at home Aug. 30 vs. Nicholls.