Updated: August 13, 2012, 4:57 PM ET

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- UCLA middle linebacker Patrick Larimore will take a medical retirement because of multiple concussions, coach Jim Mora said after practice Monday during training camp at Cal State San Bernardino.

Larimore, a senior who was a team captain last season, suffered a concussion in April and sat out the latter portion of spring practice. He returned for the first two days of training camp, but had another concussion Aug. 6 and hasn't been back since.

He left camp to be examined by doctors at UCLA, then came back and informed his coaches and players of his decision Sunday night.

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"After talking it over with the doctors and talking it over with his family and the way he felt, he felt that for his future heath and long-term health that he should medically retire," Mora said.

"Obviously it was a very tough decision for Patrick and a very tough decision for this team. Patrick was very mature in his decision and gave it a lot of thought. He didn't get captured in the moment and only thinking about the here and now."

Larimore, 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, was a starter since his sophomore season. He was the team's defensive MVP last season after leading the team with 81 tackles. As a sophomore, he was named the Nagurski defensive player of the week after registering 12 tackles in a game against Houston.

He was the defensive leader on the field, calling out the plays and formations, but was equally important off the field as a high-character peer who kept his teammates in line.

"On the field, off the field, in the locker room, from snap to whistle, it's hard to replace a Patrick Larimore," Mora said. "It's really hard to replace that intensity, that passion, that commitment to the game."

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UCLA LB Larimore chooses medical retirement