Zander Diamont is putting his health ahead of football.
The junior quarterback from Los Angeles celebrated senior day festivities prior to IU's 26-24 win against Purdue and said he won't be playing football beyond the Hoosiers' bowl game. He cited health concerns, specifically pointing out concussions, as the reason for retiring early.
"I'm not going to the NFL," Diamont said. "I need my brain."
Diamont approached IU head coach Kevin Wilson and notified him of his decision not to exhaust all of his eligibility about a week ago. Diamont, who plays at just 6-foot-1, 173-pounds, is on track to graduate with a telecommunications degree after the upcoming summer semester.
"He's a small guy, and he plays with a lot of heart and a lot of courage," Wilson said. "That was the decision he and his family came to."
Despite going through the senior day ceremony, Diamont could still come back to Indiana to play if he has a change of heart. Just last season, Wes Rogers celebrated senior day only to come back for a fifth year this season.
But Diamont said his decision to stop playing football is "pretty much final." He's been dealing with concussions since his high school days and doesn't want to keep putting his body through the physical beating of being a high-level football player.
"I'm not going to start being the guy who slides and steps out of bounds," Diamont said. "That's just not my style. And if I'm going to go out, I'm going to go out my way. I'm not going to alter the way that I play in order to kind of treat that side of the deal."
When asked about Diamont's decision, teammates who were available to talk to the media postgame Saturday said they didn't know about the decision. Junior running back Devine Redding, in particular, said he had no idea.
"I think Zander is kind of at the point where he thought this was his last few games here he's played," Wilson said. "Not that he's been hurt, but I think some of the hits are adding up on him, was his comments."
Diamont started seven games in his Indiana career, including the final six games of his freshman season in 2014. With one bowl game left to play, he has 14 total appearances by the time he hangs up his jersey for good.
A dual-threat quarterback, Diamont currently has 837 passing yards and one touchdown to go along with 510 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Never one to avoid a hit, he played with a swagger and energy that led to him celebrating scores early, throwing up the Johnny Manziel "money" hand sign after reaching the end zone and famously celebrating Purdue wins with victory cigars.
He fought through the last offseason in a battle against junior transfer Richard Lagow for the starting spot but ultimately lost out. Once he realized he wouldn't start, Diamont carved a niche for himself as a wildcat quarterback all while earning the respect from teammates along the way.
“From where he came to where he is now, he’s matured immensely in an extremely positive way,” fifth-year senior offensive lineman Jacob Bailey said of Diamont earlier this season. “If you spent time in our locker room, you would be able to tell. I think that’s honestly been one of the highlights of our team is just how positive he’s been, how he’s accepted his role. And when his time has come, he has been able to perform.”
In his final home game at Memorial Stadium, Diamont took 13 rushes for 42 yards and a score. He led what proved to be the game-winning touchdown drive with five minutes left operating Indiana's wildcat offense.
Diamont's numbers would have been better had it not been for a planned 27-yard loss near the end of regulation. The Hoosiers were purposely trying to take a safety to avoid a potential punt block and trusted Diamont to run back into the end zone and burn as much of the 11 seconds on the clock as possible.
Diamont did his job, getting all but one second off the clock. And the records will show his final play at Memorial Stadium went for the most successful 27-yard loss of his playing career.
"I was just trying not to get hit. I was concerned about that mostly, just running for my life," Diamont said.
"I wish I could have got that last second."
