Georgia just can’t seem to avoid controversy when it comes to player departures this month.
Earlier today, Tim Kimbrough took to Twitter to confirm that he was no longer a member of the UGA football program. In one of the tweets, he stated that he “didn’t have a choice to stay at Georgia.”
A short time later, he expounded on the circumstances of his departure. According to the linebacker, a departure from practice because of what he said was an injury was the genesis of the situation.
“I just wanted to sit out, so the people in front of me could start until they needed me, until the team needed me,” Kimbrough the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “But since I left practice, coach, he was like, since I left practice I’ve got to be kicked off the team, or I had to transfer. So I just said I would transfer.”
However, the Journal-Constitution writes, “someone with knowledge of Kimbrough’s departure maintained that Georgia coaches ‘tried to keep him.’” In a statement released to the media, head coach Kirby Smart characterized the departure as a “mutual decision.”
“Based on a mutual decision between Tim and I, he will no longer be a part of our football program,” Smart stated. “We wish him the best as he continues his education and playing career.”
Kimbrough, who is already back home in Indianapolis after withdrawing from UGA earlier this week, also confirmed that he considered transferring two months ago, and was even given a release, but opted to remain with Smart’s program. Now, he will likely move on to a lower level of football as he doesn’t want to sit out the 2016 season.
A seven-game starter last season, Kimbrough was suspended for UGA’s bowl game. He would’ve been the Bulldogs’ leading returning tackler.