A thumb injury sidelined UCLA captain and defensive MVP Patrick Larimore for the Bruins’ bowl game late last year.
Unfortunately, a different injury further north will cost the Bruins its defensive heart and soul for the entire 2012 season.
Citing unnamed sources, the Los Angeles Daily News is reporting that Larimore left UCLA’s camp after practice and medically retired from the sport. It appears concussions were the overriding factor in the decision as the the fifth-year senior linebacker suffered two in a span of less than six months.
The school subsequently confirmed the development, with the Daily News reporting that the news was broken to the team during a meeting yesterday.
Larimore started 13 games for the Bruins in 2011 and led the team in tackles. For his performance, the redshirt junior was named the team’s defensive MVP.
All told, Larimore started 20 of the 31 contests in which he played since coming to the Bruins as a three-star member of its 2008 recruiting class.