Vanderbilt's former starting quarterback is the latest football player to end his football career due to injury concerns.
The Commodores announced the news Friday that redshirt junior Patton Robinette is walking away from football and entering medical school.
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"This has been a very difficult decision to make," Robinette said in a release. "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 opened the 2014 season as the team’s starter, but a knee strain in the opener and a concussion against South Carolina sidelined him for six weeks.
After Vanderbilt’s spring game Saturday, Robinette, a redshirt junior, seemed excited about his future with the program, saying he felt a “really great connection” with new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, according to the Tennessean.
But that future won’t happen.
"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,” Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said.
The quarterback battle for the Commodores will continue between redshirt sophomore Johnny McCrary, sophomore Wade Freebeck, redshirt freshman Shawn Stankavage and incoming freshman Kyle Shurmur.
In his 16 career appearances and five starts at Vanderbilt, Robinette was 89-of-155 passing for 1,096 yards and seven touchdowns.