MINNESOTA FOOTBALL
Cade Cannon has left the program
By GopherNation | Sep 29, 2016, 1:54pm CDT
Following news that first broke on Tuesday via the Beg Ten Network Cade Cannon has confirmed that he has left the Minnesota football program and the university. Cannon, who had been forced to move from quarterback to wide receiver after suffering an ulnar injury last season, cited a number of reasons for his decision.
"First and foremost I'm just not in love with football anymore." Cannon explained. "There's more to it, yeah, but ultimately that's the main reason."
Cannon said he had thought about leaving in the spring but was convinced by the coaching staff to stick around in hopes that the draw of gameday would keep him interested.
Cannon threw 40 touchdown passes and ran for 37 more in 2014 and 2015 for the Gophers before missing the last four games of the season after the injury that caused him to lose feeling and grip strength in his right hand. After trying unsuccessfully to rehab the injury Cannon and the Minnesota staff felt a position change was the best move.
"It's just not the same." Cannon explained when asked about the transition "It's not."
Cannon was on a number of Heisman watch lists in 2015 before his injury and there were high hopes for the redshirt junior coming into 2016, even after the news of the position change.
"His suddenness and open field skills make him exciting at any position, doesn't matter how the ball gets into his hands." One Big Ten coach said in July.
Others expected Cannon to recover and come back as a QB for the 2017 season, when many thought Cannon had the skills and size to be a first round pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
"I don't have to live my life by someone else's definition of success." Cannon shot back when a reporter asked about the potential NFL QB earnings Cannon was walking away from, citing recent big money deals for young talented quarterbacks.
Cannon was then grilled about what was next for him.
"I don't know. Just some reflection for now I guess."
Cannon leaves Minnesota with one year of eligibility left, should he decide to return to football, and QB, in 2017 he'll no doubt have plenty of suitors.