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Vanderbilt QB Patton Robinette retires amid health concerns, enters medical school

By Patrick Schmidt

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Vanderbilt quarterback Patton Robinette retired from football on Friday, citing safety concerns and a desire to go to medical school.

Patton Robinette was in line to start at quarterback this year for the Vanderbilt Commodores after finishing spring practice earlier this month, but he’s got bigger and better things on his mind.

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Robinette made the difficult decision to walk away from his teammates, coaches and the game he loves to focus on his future and protect his health as he pursues a career in the medical field. The redshirt junior is enrolling in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine this summer.

His decision was also influenced by his health history which includes a knee sprain and a concussion that forced him to miss six weeks last season.

“This has been a very difficult decision to make,” Robinette said in a statement, via ESPN.com. “This team means the world to me and I love playing football more than anything. It’s been tough coming to a decision that is right for my family and I, 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 really to see what the field of medicine has in store for me.”

Robinette was competing with Wade Freebeck, Johnny McCrary and Shawn Stankavage in the spring for the starting quarterback job, but with him out of the running and incoming freshman Kyle Shurmur arriving this summer, Vanderbilt may be at the beginning stages of finding a quarterback.

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason was informed of the decision on Thursday before Robinette told his teammates of the decision on Friday and is supportive of his decision to walk away from the game.

“Patton Robinette is one of the most fierce competitors that I’ve ever had the pleasure to coach,” Mason said. “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.”

Next: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly from Vandy Spring Game

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