Thanks to their high academic standing, Vanderbilt has long been referred to as the Ivy League of the SEC.
Today, the Commodores are on the wrong end of some surprising news involving the real Ivy League.
In a press release, California quarterback Chad Kanoff announced that he has decided to enroll at Princeton this fall instead of Vanderbilt. Kanoff had been a verbal commitment to Vandy since early last year and signed his National Letter of Intent with the Commodores last month.
Other than Princeton being a better fit, Kanoff gave no reason for his unexpected decision.
“Vanderbilt is a great school, with a strong football program, and a terrific coaching staff, and I’m grateful for the opportunity that was offered to me,” Kanoff said in a statement released through his Pacific Palisades high school. “However, after thoroughly thinking it through, I believe that Princeton is the best fit for me as a student-athlete.”
In his own statement, Kanoff’s high school coach, Scot Ruggles, said that he “cannot speculate on his decision to attend Princeton” but wishes him “all the best in his future as a student-athlete.”
Vanderbilt has yet to comment on Kanoff’s departure.
Kanoff was rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, 247Sports.com and Scout.com, while ESPN.com gave him four stars. Rivals had Kanoff listed as the No. 29 pro-style quarterback in the country.
Kanoff, who also held scholarship offers from San Diego State and Syracuse among others, was the lower-rated of two quarterbacks signed by James Franklin and his coaching staff in February. Georgia high schooler Johnny McCrary was a four-star member of Vandy’s 2013 class, rated as the No. 10 dual-threat quarterback in the nation.