Kimbrough threatened to be kicked off team at Georgia, per report

Photo: Sean Taylor/UGA

There may have been no choice but for senior linebacker Tim Kimbrough to transfer from Georgia.

After announcing his transfer decision on Thursday morning via Twitter, he spoke with the Associated Press regarding his decision. By the looks of things, the transfer may have been forced by the Georgia coaching staff.

“Coach told me he was going to kick me off the team or I had to transfer,” Kimbrough said.

Kimbrough elaborated and said the order by Georgia head coach Kirby Smart came after Tuesday’s practice. The reason for exiting the practice is still undisclosed, but it was not due to injury.

Kimbrough said on Twitter that he will attend a D2 school (FCS), because he doesn’t want to sit out a year. If the senior was to attend a FBS school, he would have to be sidelined for a season due to not yet being a graduate. He went on to allow coaches to contact him via direct message for film and information.

With 67 tackles last season, he was the team’s third leading tackler. Kimbrough has had to work with three position coaches before this season, Kirk Olivadotti in 2013, Mike Ekeler in 2014 and ’15, and Kevin Sherrer for the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl. However, with his fourth position coach Glenn Schumann, things haven’t gone smoothly.

Kimbrough said he was displeased with his current standing on the depth chart, saying “I earned the job in the spring.” In spring practice, Smart said Kimbrough missed time due to academic reasons. But Kimbrough said it wasn’t the reason for transferring.

In preseason practices, he was working behind sophomore Natrez Patrick and junior Reggie Carter. Sophomore Roquan Smith has also made his case to work ahead of him.

After being suspended in last season’s bowl game and missing periods of practice, Kimbrough’s father told the Athens-Banner Herald that he was transferring “for his best interest.”

Shortly after noon on Thursday, Kirby Smart released a statement on Kimbrough’s transfer.

“Based on a mutual decision between Tim (Kimbrough) 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.”