No. 1 LSU will be without one of its top defensive players Saturday when it face No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa as linebacker Michael Divinity is no longer with the teams, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron announced Monday afternoon.
“Michael Divinity has left the team for personal reasons,” Orgeron said.
The linebacker followed Orgeron's announcement with a statement posted to his Instagram account.
A post shared by Michael Divinity (@tht_boy_mike) on Nov 4, 2019 at 12:37pm PST
"I am taking some time off to focus on a personal matter and just wanted to say thank you to my coaches, teammates, and the entire LSU community for your continued help and support," Divinity wrote. "I am sorry I can't be on the field for you guys. My goal is to get myself back to 100% in time to graduate in December and be back on the field fighting with my brothers soon."
Divinity Jr. played in five of LSU’s eight games and racked up a team leading three sacks to go along with 23 tackles, four for a loss and a forced fumble.
Orgeron said LSU will not “close the door” on the senior potentially being able to return to the team but told reporters “we’ll see” when asked about that possibility.
Orgeron did say that he’s confident in the players LSU does have at Divinity’s position which included pass rusher K’lavon Chaisson along with linebackers Andre Anthony and Ray Thornton.
LSU is set to play the Crimson Tide Saturday at 2 p.m.
