Robinson won't play final year at Notre Dame due to concussions - NY Daily News

 

Head injury concerns have driven Corey Robinson onto a road less taken for NCAA football stars.

 

The Notre Dame wide-receiver — son of 10-time NBA All Star center David Robinson — announced Wednesday he will be sit out his senior year due to concerns for his brain.

 

"After much contemplation and prayer, I have decided not to continue playing football due to multiple concussions," Robinson said in a statement, adding that he will be a student assistant for the Fighting Irish next fall.

 

Notre Dame's Twitter feed said Robinson "will not play for the Irish in 2016, but will continue to serve as a leader for the program."

 

Robinson caught 65 passes for 896 yards in three years in South Bend. He achieved First-Team Academic All-American honors his sophomore year as a starter for the legend-soaked football program. Robinson is also the student body president, a position that prompted a discussion with Irish coach Brian Kelly about where “football is (in) this priority list.”

 

Robinson also suffered multiple concussions. Studies have linked the repetitive head trauma in football and other sports to chronic brain diseases.

 

The increasing awareness of football's cruel effects on the brain have become a liability for the college football programs. Last month the NCAA was hit with a class action lawsuit over neurological injuries. Other defendants include the Big Ten conference, the SEC, the PAC-12 and Western Athletic Conference, along with Penn State, Vanderbilt and others.

 

Numerous players have walked away from the game early in what could have been promising careers. NFL players like former Jets guard Kris Dielman and 49ers linebacker Chris Borland have retired early, leaving money on the table in favor of neurological health.

 

Robinson thanked Kelly, who led the team to a 39-12 record over the years that Robinson played there.

 

"I couldn't have come to this difficult personal decision without the incredible support from so many within the Notre Dame football program," Robinson said. "I am extremely thankful to Coach Kelly and his staff for the life-changing opportunity to play football at the greatest University in the world. I will continue to help our team as a student assistant and look forward to a great senior year."

Have no doubt that the smart gene was passed on by his legendary father, a Naval Academy grad. Great things coming for a young man like this and thankfully he planned well his future.

It's bittersweet seeing a great player step away from the game they love for health concerns. The good news is he's doing this on his own terms.