An injury-filled career will mean the end of it for Kansas linebacker Huldon Tharp. The senior-to-be and Jayhawks coach Charlie Weis confirmed on Monday that Tharp will forgoing his final season of eligibility because of multiple injuries.
“Physically, my body just can’t hold up anymore,” Tharp said. “I love KU and have enjoyed my time being a part of the football program. Thanks to Coach Weis’ encouragement, I am going to graduate this summer and head out into the real world.”
Tharp, who missed the entire 2010 season with a leg injury, was a key contributor on Kansas’ defense this past season with 55 tackles. That was good enough for fifth on the team.
The loss of Tharp hurts depth, obviously, and none more so than during spring practices. The good news for KU is that Ben Heeney and Jake Love will be back in 2013. Heeney was recently cited for misdemeanor battery stemming from an off-field incident in January.