Patton Robinette began the year as Vanderbilt’s third-string quarterback, but Saturday the redshirt freshman led the Commodores to their first win over a ranked opponent since 2008.
Robinette spent the first half of the season learning under senior quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels and making brief appearances late in games, but he was thrust into the spotlight after Carta-Samuels was injured in the second quarter of the 31-27 victory over No. 15 Georgia.
Carta-Samuels, who has started all seven games, was helped to the locker room after having his left leg twisted when Georgia linebacker Jordan Jenkins sacked him.
After watching his mentor spend a considerable amount of time on the ground in pain, Robinette knew he would have to be the one to pick up the pieces and lead the offense.
“I didn’t wake up this morning expecting to play a big impact in the game,” Robinette said. “But Austyn went down, and it was my job to step up and execute the offense to the best of my ability.”
A former Tennessee Gatorade high school player of the year, Robinette responded by doing what he was known for over the course of his championship-laden high school career — win.
“I’m very, very proud of him,” Vanderbilt coach James Franklin said. “That’s all that kid did in high school, and that’s why we recruited him.”
Robinette’s numbers weren’t overwhelming (9-of-15 passing, 107 yards, one interception), but he led the Commodores to a 17-point fourth quarter.
“He just came in and did what we asked him to do,” offensive coordinator John Donovan said. “We put ourselves in a bind being down by 10 at half, and we told him at halftime he was going to help us get ourselves out of this thing.”
Robinette scored the first touchdown of the second half on a 2-yard keeper, and led an 11-play drive that ended with a field goal before a Georgia turnover gave Vanderbilt a chance to go ahead with less than three minutes remaining.
“I definitely got more comfortable as I went,” he said. “It was kind of a shock when an injury like that happens … but you have to be prepared to go the distance.”
Carta-Samuels left McGugin Center on crutches, and his left leg was wrapped. The extent of his injury was unknown. He will miss Sunday’s practice to return to California following the death of his grandfather.
