Interim head coach Bryan McClendon met with reporters after Georgia’s practice and was able to provide updates on some players who have been missing from action the past few days. Among the revelations he provided was that linebacker Tim Kimbrough will not be playing in the TaxSlayer Bowl.
“It’s from matters that have been handled internally,” McClendon said after the Bulldogs’ sixth bowl practice. “That’s why he hasn’t been out there. … Right now it’s just this game.”
McClendon wouldn’t provide any details for why Kimbrough is suspended. He played only sparingly in the season finale against Georgia Tech on Nov. 28. UGA just completed the fall final exam schedule last week.
Kimbrough, a 6-foot, 226-pound junior from Indianapolis, was a seven-game starter at inside linebacker and the Bulldogs’ third-leading tackler with 67. Freshman Natrez Patrick is expected to start in Kimbrough’s absence. Patrick also started against Tech.
Safety Johnathan Abram also has not been present the last couple of days. There had been talk that the 6-1-200 pound freshman safety might be considering a transfer, but McClendon indicated Abram will be back with the team eventually.
“Johnathan Abram had some family things come up, so we let him handle that,” McClendon said. “… That’s just for right now.”
McClendon also confirmed that junior tailback Brendan Douglas will miss the bowl game after having wrist surgery this past weekend and defensive lineman Sterling Bailey missed Monday’s practice while recovering from an injury that is not expected to keep him out of the game.
Georgia’s already thin situation at running back might have gotten more precarious on Monday. According to 247Sports.com’s Rusty Mansell, Quayvon Hicks entered the Butts-Mehre Building on crutches. Hicks, a fullback by trade, was working as the Bulldogs’ third-string tailback as well.
