There was uncertainty entering the week about who the starting quarterback would be for both Vanderbilt and Texas A&M on Saturday, but one team named their starter on Thursday as the Commodores confirmed that Patton Robinette will start in place of Austyn Carta-Samuels.
Robinette replaced Carta-Samuels last week against Georgia after Carta-Samuels suffered a left leg injury. The redshirt freshman was 9-of-15 passing for 107 yards, ran for a touchdown and threw an interception in the 31-27 victory.
Robinette is 13-of-20 passing for 148 yards and an interception on the season. Carta-Samuels, who has started all seven games for Vanderbilt this season is 129-of-197 passing for 1,672 yards and 10 touchdowns with seven interceptions for the Commodores (4-3, 1-3 SEC).
"He's the perfect fit for what we're trying to do at Vanderbilt," Vanderbilt coach James Franklin said Wednesday of Robinette. "When we make comments like, 'You better prepare as if you're the starter,' Patton does that. When he got his opportunity and his number was called, he stepped in and did a good job. Now that was a half of football. He needs to come out and build on the things he did last week and limit some of the mistakes that he made."
Texas A&M's starter is uncertain for the meeting with Vanderbilt at Kyle Field. Johnny Manziel, who suffered an injury to his right shoulder, is day-to-day, and coach Kevin Sumlin called his status "hopeful," for Saturday's game. If Manziel doesn't start, either junior Matt Joeckel or true freshman Kenny Hill will take his place.
Saturday will mark the first meeting in history between these teams.
