Two days after Rara Thomas posted bonds after his second domestic violence arrest since joining the program, Georgia football coach Kirby Smart on Thursday addressed the wide receiver publicly for the first time as the Bulldogs began preseason practices.

Smart met with Thomas on Tuesday face-to-face after his release from jail.

"I let him know that he can no longer be a part of the football team," Smart said. "He understands that. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Smart had not commented since Thomas’ early Friday morning arrest for a charge of felony cruelty to children and two misdemeanor charges of family violence/battery.

Thomas was suspended indefinitely since the day of the arrest.

Thomas had 23 catches for 383 yards and a touchdown in his first Georgia season last year but he was expected to be a key contributor this season after battling a foot injury last season.

The Mississippi State transfer’s arrest was just the latest of another offseason of players running into trouble off the field.

The week before Thomas’ arrest Smart addressed another round of high-speed driving incidents for players. Linebacker Smael Mondon and offensive lineman Bo Hughley were arrested in separate reckless driving incidents. Mondon was also cited for racing with cornerback Demello Jones were cited for racing by Athens police and offensive lineman Bo Hughley.

Thomas was also cited three times this offseason for speeding and another time for running a red light.

Smart has faced growing criticism by media that don’t cover the program for his players actions.

Georgia players have been arrested or cited at least 29 times for reckless driving, racing or speeding since the Jan. 15 fatal crash of offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy. Police said LeCroy and defensive tackle Jalen Carter, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, were racing at more than 100 miles per hour.

“If the stench of its give-zero-bleeps culture has not received a lot of national attention, that’s only because of a reality as old as time: Winning is the ultimate deodorizer,” wrote David Briggs of the Toledo Blade. “The Bulldogs represent the good, the bad, and the Uga of college athletics, a powerhouse as dominant on the field as they are shameless off of it. And they are putting to the strongest test the broad — and uncomfortable — questions that confront all fan bases: What are you willing to tolerate in exchange for Saturday glory?”

Two recent pieces compared Smart to former Florida coach Urban Meyer who ran a scandal-plagued program while winning championships.

“I’m going to make this very easy for Kirby Smart: Start kicking players off the team,” wrote Matt Hayes of Saturday Down South. “Then hold a press conference, and declare that the next player who receives a speeding ticket or reckless driving charge, or a felony charge of any kind, is off the team. Period. Watch how quickly this stuff ends. Watch how quickly it reverberates through the team and leads to change.”

Smart did dismiss safety Daniel David-Sisavanh last month. He was charged with reckless driving after leading Atlanta police on a pursuit after making multiple lane changes at high speed.

USA Today Sports Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams spoke about Georgia on their weekly podcast and excerpts of what they said ran with a headline: Georgia football is out of control. Will Kirby Smart step up discipline?”

With Georgia players now hunkered down for preseason camp and no classes in session until Aug. 14, the focus should turn to football which would be welcome for fans and coaches.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Kirby Smart on Rara Thomas, Georgia football's latest offseason arrest