Patton Robinette, who was Vanderbilt’s most effective quarterback last season and was the favorite to win the starting role this year, announced to teammates Friday morning that he was giving up football.
Robinette suffered a concussion in the fourth game last season against South Carolina, and that sidelined him for six weeks. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound redshirt junior from Maryville spoke with Vanderbilt physicians, trainers and coaches before informing the team.
“This has been a very difficult decision to make,” Robinette said through a school statement. “This team means the world to me, and I love playing football more than anything. It has been tough coming to a decision that is right for my family and me and protects my health and future.
“I’ve been very deliberate in coming to this decision. It’s difficult but I’m really excited to move forward to the next chapter of my life and see what the field of medicine has in store for me.”
Robinette is expected to enter Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine this summer and focus eventually on orthopedics.
The Commodores finished spring practice last weekend, with Robinette vying at quarterback with redshirt sophomore Johnny McCrary, sophomore Wade Freebeck and redshirt freshman Shawn Stankavage. Kyle Shurmur is scheduled to enter the mix this summer for new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig.
Robinette completed 89 of 155 passes for 1,096 yards and seven touchdowns in a Commodores career that included 16 appearances and five starts during the 2013 and ’14 seasons. In his six games last year, Robinette completed 64.2 percent of his passes.
“Patton Robinette is one of the most fierce competitors that I’ve ever had the pleasure to coach,” Vanderbilt second-year coach Derek Mason said. “He’s been a winner on every level and a guy that others look to for leadership. Patton leaves this football team in good hands and has done a fantastic job of helping to create a foundation for success.
“This has been tough on Patton and his family, but we support his decision and look forward to seeing what the future in medicine holds for such an outstanding young man.”
Robinette does not lack for memorable moments on the field, having led the 2013 Commodores to a 31-27 comeback victory over visiting Georgia and to the program’s first win at Florida since World War II. His 5-yard touchdown run provided the winning points that year in a 14-10 win over Tennessee, and he capped Vanderbilt’s second straight nine-win season by guiding the Commodores to a triumph over Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl in January 2014.
As the quarterback at Maryville High, Robinette led two teams that went a combined 29-1 and won consecutive state championships.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.