The divorce between senior inside linebacker Tim Kimbrough and Georgia’s football program became official Thursday.
Bulldogs first-year head coach Kirby Smart said after Wednesday’s practice that the team’s top returning tackler from last season had taken a leave of absence. Thursday morning, Smart sent out a statement offering finality.
“Based on a mutual decision between Tim and I, he will no longer be a part of our football program,” Smart said. “We wish him the best as he continues his education and playing career.”
While Smart took the succinct route, Kimbrough posted messages about his departure Wednesday night on Twitter and again Thursday morning.
“I didn’t have a choice to stay at Georgia,” Kimbrough posted Thursday. “I have to go to a DII school so I can play this year. I’m not sitting out this year.”
Kimbrough also told The Associated Press that Smart “told me he was going to kick me off the team, or I had to transfer.”
A consensus four-star signee in 2013 out of Indianapolis, the 6-foot, 226-pounder appeared in 36 games for the Bulldogs and made seven starts, all of which came last season. He tallied 104 career tackles, including 67 in 2015.
Kimbrough had a career-best 13 tackles in last season’s 38-10 loss to Alabama, and he tallied 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in the 38-31 loss at Tennessee.
One of Kimbrough’s Twitter posts Thursday referenced the four linebacker coaches during his time in Athens. He played under Kirk Olivadotti in 2013, Mike Ekeler during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Kevin Sherrer in bowl practices last December and Glenn Schumann this year.
“I don’t know what happened this year,” Kimbrough posted.
Jake Ganus (102) and Leonard Floyd (74) were the only Georgia players who had more tackles last season than Kimbrough. The top returning tackler for the Bulldogs is now senior safety Quincy Mauger, who had 58 a year ago.
The Bulldogs practiced Thursday and will work out again today before conducting their first preseason scrimmage Saturday.
Odds and ends
Smart has awarded a scholarship to senior outside linebacker Tommy Long of Marietta, who was named this spring as the team’s outstanding defensive walk-on. Five-star safety commitment Richard LeCounte III of Riceboro, Ga., was taken off the field on a stretcher Thursday during a scrimmage but posted on Twitter, “Thanks, everyone. I’m OK.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.