Western Kentucky linebacker Daeshawn Bertram left the Hilltopper program last month, coach Mike Sanford confirmed Monday.

Bertram, a redshirt senior, last played Nov. 17 in a win against Middle Tennessee. He didn’t make the trip to Florida International for a Nov. 24 Hilltopper loss and isn’t with the team as it prepares for Saturday’s Cure Bowl in Orlando, Fla., against Georgia State.

“It was a combination of factors,” Sanford said when asked whether Bertram’s exit from the program was the player’s decision or the coach’s decision.

Bertram is a 5-foot-8, 225-pound Louisville native who prepped at Trinity High School. He played mostly on special teams units from 2014-16 before seeing more playing time this year at linebacker.

Bertram made 37 tackles, 3 1/2 for loss, in 10 games this season. He also recovered a fumble.

Bertram made 11 tackles in an Oct. 22 win at Old Dominion and seven in a Sept. 9 loss at Illinois.

“He chose to go in a different direction,” Sanford said of Bertram. “He had a great career here, did a lot of great things, had a terrific game (at ODU) and I think it’s a privilege and an honor to play in the postseason. I feel really good about the 86 guys that are going to Orlando.”