Georgia Football: ILB Tim Kimbrough leaving team, ‘didn’t have a choice’

The Georgia football team needs some veteran leadership this season with all the changes, but senior inside linebacker Tim Kimbrough won’t be there to provide any for the Bulldogs.

Yesterday it was announced by Georgia head coach Kirby Smart that senior ILB Tim Kimbrough was taking a “leave of absence” from the team. Today, that leave has turned into a full-fledged leaving of the program.

In a curious move, Kimbrough – who had been a fairly productive player for the Bulldogs – announced his intentions to leave Georgia due to a reported fallout with the current coaching staff. He had been suspended for last year’s bowl game against Penn State, and missed some spring practices due to academic issues.

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Kimbrough’s father told the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday that his son had “made a decision to leave in his best interest.” His father also said this situation is not related to academics.

The Indianapolis native Kimbrough sent out a series of tweets making his intentions to leave Georgia and play at a Division 2 school known via a series of tweets on Thursday.

This is no small loss for the Bulldogs, who are looking at the defense to help carry them through some tough games. Kimbrough was one of the teams four top tacklers last season, and he was the last one of those left on the roster. The senior started in seven games last season, tallying 67 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback sack.

The linebackers competing for that starting ILB slot – Reggie Carter, Natrez Patrick and Roquan Smith – have only three combined starts between them, with other freshmen possibly in the mix.

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Since Mark Richt’s departure, Kimbrough joines safety Jonathan Abram, running back A.J. Turman and offensive lineman Jake Edwards who have all transferred from the program.