RaRa Thomas breaks out at Buffalo

After focusing hard on transfer portal recruiting, the Troy Trojans landed a Power Four veteran in wide receiver RaRa Thomas in the offseason. One of the most consistent wide receivers from the SEC, three-star Georgia transfer Thomas is no stranger to the endzone, finding it 14 times so far in his collegiate career.   

Most recently against Buffalo, Thomas broke out with five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown. Thomas powered the Troy offense with a 41-yard-long reception and helped spark the fourth-quarter comeback with his touchdown grab.  

Thomas transferred to Troy for his senior season, adding a veteran presence to the receiver room for the offense. After a slow start against Nicholls with one reception for seven yards, Thomas quadrupled that production at Clemson, achieving four catches and 40 yards.  

Troy Athletics photo

RaRa Thomas celebrates his touchdown against Buffalo.

While he had a slow game against Memphis, Thomas broke through on the road against Buffalo in Troy’s 21-17 win. Although Troy trailed 17-0 in the fourth quarter, the offense found a groove and made a stunning comeback.  

Thomas was part of that comeback, as quarterback Tucker Kilcrease found him in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown reception to cap off a determined march down the field. Following Thomas’ touchdown grab to make it 17-14, the Troy defense held, and the Trojans completed the comeback. 

Thomas played his freshman and sophomore years at Mississippi State, where he finished the season with 18 catches for 252 yards and five touchdowns in his freshman year. In his sophomore season, Thomas broke out with 44 catches, 626 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Thomas then transferred to Georgia for his junior season, where he continued his run with 44 catches, 626 yards and one touchdown before becoming a Trojan over the offseason.  Throughout his collegiate career, Thomas has 95 receptions, 1,386 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.  

The addition of Thomas has bolstered the Troy receiver room, helping to fill the shoes of Penn State transfer Devonte Ross. On Oct. 4 when the South Alabama Jaguars play in the Battle for the Belt in Troy, Thomas is a name that should be recognized and a player to keep an eye on. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. in The Vet.