The departure of Patton Robinette leaves a hole at QB for Vanderbilt. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)
Patton Robinette’s decision last week to give up football left Vanderbilt without its most experienced returning quarterback.
Robinette, a redshirt junior, played in 16 games over the past two years. He threw for 1,096 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 277 yards and nine touchdowns during his career.
The decision came after Vanderbilt played its spring game with the defense beating the offense, 38-24. Robinette and the other quarterback candidates — sophomore Wade Freebeck, redshirt sophomore Johnny McCrary — and redshirt freshman Shawn Stankavage — played in the game.
“Our guys got to make plays for our quarterbacks,” Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. “I think our quarterbacks made some good throws, but we’ve got to make plays for our guys so it’s hard to evaluate. I’ve seen guys making plays for their quarterbacks all spring and today was one of those days when we just couldn’t find our rhythm.
“There is no frontrunner (for the starting quarterback job).”
Robinette took the first snaps in the spring game but he didn’t feel like that was particularly significant.
“Read into it what you want,” he said. “At the end of the day I’m going to have to go out there in the off-season to camp to compete to maintain my position at the top and I’m going to work hard to do that.”
But now he is out of the picture. According to Robinette, he decided to give up football because of a history of injuries.
“This has been a very difficult decision to make,” Robinette said. “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.”
“Patton leaves this football team in good hands, and has done a fantastic job of helping to create a foundation for success,” Mason said.
For Robinette that future includes medical school. But for Vanderbilt, the quarterback position is now wide open, which could open the door for true freshman Kyle Shurmur, a highly-touted incoming recruit.
McCrary and Freebeck had moments in the final scrimmage before the Black and Gold game that helped them state their case for the job. As for Shurmur, it will be the fall before Mason gets a chance to see just what he has in 6-foot-4, 210-pound pocket passer from Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.
“Kyle is tremendously talented; the cornerstone of this class,” Mason said when the Commodores signed Shurmur. “You have a quarterback of his caliber who has played in as many big games, and has done what he has done throughout his prep career, and to be able to keep him, that’s huge.
“A lot of people came after Kyle, including Michigan as of late. He stuck to the course. He knew exactly what he wanted and feels like Vanderbilt is the place for him. (He has) an extremely strong arm, he’s extremely smart and has been around the game his whole life. He fits who we are. He’s a football junky and we want a football junky in the building.”
Shurmur, the son of Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, was a four-star quarterback rated as the seventh-best in the country at his position and the No. 1 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania. As a senior he threw for 1,143 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Come this fall he will get his chance to win the starting quarterback job at Vanderbilt.
