[Devin, Don't Read This] Gardner listed as #16 overall NFL Draft prospect according to SI
SI has updated its NFL Draft board today, and Devin moved up to the #16 overall prospect for the 2014 draft. The positive is due to the very strong QB class (he's the fifth overall QB) it might be in his best interest to wait for a year.
Other notables:
- Taylor is #3 overall, and #1 overall OT (as expected).
- Jadaveon Clowney is the #1 overall
- Notre Dame has 2 D-lineman in the top 10 (Nix and Tuitt), which has to make us feel a bit better about out O-line's struggles last week.
- Devin is ahead of Braxton Miller (#18). Go Blue.
September 12th, 2013 at 9:02 AM ^
is they have room to grow as well. I'd be shocked if he's the top 3 QB taken in the draft to be honest.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:11 PM ^
How is Miller the #18 draft choice? He's a very good athlete but lacks great speed and isn't the best passer. Maybe a team would take him hoping to get the next Wilson/Kaepernick/RG3 but he can't throw anywhere close to as well as those guys and has a pretty significant history of injury issues.
Hopefully for Michigan fans, Gardner takes Tom Brady's words to heart and comes back to be elected captain next year and win another Big10 title.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^
I would say he has excellent speed. I'd put him in the second round.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:16 PM ^
I was thinking the same thing as well. Braxton's a great athlete, but doesn't have that NFL arm. Plus you don't see any Urban Meyer QB's tearing up the NFL, Alex Smith is debatable.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:12 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:12 PM ^
This is crazy. Devin's decision-making is still not NFL caliber, and his mechanics need work. He won't be ready by the end of this year.
September 12th, 2013 at 3:17 AM ^
I agree. Gardner has great potential and great physical abilities but listen to anyone that knows anything about quarterbacking and they'll tell you how much of it is mental. Without looking at the stats I think he's still throwing an interception per game... I know he's got 3 already this year. There's no questioning the physical abilites or his ceiling but he needs to time to get experience and learn how to cut down on his miscues. ...maybe that happens in one full season as the starter but I think he'd be wise to stick around for 2. It'll only help him in the long run.
September 12th, 2013 at 5:29 AM ^
I'm sorry, but if he's projected to be a first round pick, there is too much recent evidence to show that he would be risking far more staying than going.
September 12th, 2013 at 10:04 AM ^
NFL teams seems so desparate to find their franchise QB that you always see questionable QBs get taken in th 1st and 2nd rounds
September 12th, 2013 at 2:28 PM ^
Devin is the epitome of small sample size and projection bias. Look, I love him, and would like nothing better than for this to be true, because it would mean a great year (at least) in store for us. But the only team that really game planned for him is ND (SC and OSU likely dd some, but that was complicated by the fact that Denard was here and they had to plan for both QB's potentially and in a different offense). Devin had a great game, and I assume will tear it up the next few games. But until he replcates this perfrormance against another couple of excellent defenses (MSU first obvs) that plan exclusively for him, the hype is getting ahead of itself.
September 12th, 2013 at 12:12 AM ^
...Are we allowed to enjoy the pictures too?
September 11th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^
Assuming the NFL interest remains very high, it may end up coming down to how well the team does this season. Clearly Lewan had something to return for, but if we win the Big Ten championship and get a nice BCS bowl bid--maybe even Rose--then I am not sure Devin would have much reason to return.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:17 PM ^
Natty next year?? (a man can hope)
September 11th, 2013 at 9:19 PM ^
It would certainly be on the table. Next year's team should be very good.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:23 PM ^
We should have a great team, the biggest thing we would need to do if Devin stays is replace out Tackles. If that is okay, we could be in great shape. The biggest difficultly for making it all the way would be the schedule, as we have Ohio St., Notre Dame and Michigan St. on the road next year.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:27 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:54 PM ^
Michigan State is going to be a truly awful team next year.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^
ND loses something like half of their team to graduation.
September 12th, 2013 at 6:05 AM ^
Notre Dame loses it's Dline and doesn't have much to replace it right now. MSU loses most of it's defense and their offense will still be terrible. Ohio loses 4/5 starters on it's o line and a chunk of it's secondary. We lose both our tackles, Gallon, Dileo and Washington. That's just off the top of my head.
Our offense might not be as good next year as this year over all but, our defense should be overpowering. If it isn't we've had some recruiting busts
September 12th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
We also lose Toussaint. If Gardner leaves, it could be a rebuilding year next year, especially given all the road trips we have to make.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:22 PM ^
A man can fantasize
September 11th, 2013 at 9:24 PM ^
or just be a Bama fan
/sigh
September 11th, 2013 at 9:41 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:15 PM ^
Braxton Miller at 18? Must be the Tebow success.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:23 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:27 PM ^
I'd love to see him as our 4th Heisman, but all things being equal, take the money.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^
September 12th, 2013 at 1:33 AM ^
I've heard that the Master of Social Work Program is a two year program.
September 12th, 2013 at 9:23 AM ^
And on top of this, you REALLY need a master's in that field if you want to go for social work jobs.
September 12th, 2013 at 3:24 PM ^
Of course, he could probably earn enough in the NFL to pay for grad school tuition later on.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:33 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^
I'm hoping that he takes a page out of the book of Lewan/Long. Or looks at his jersey and thinks "What Would Tom Harmon Do", the answer to which would clearly be stay for a fourth year (unless the US needed him to fly planes and stuff).
September 11th, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^
and "lost" money. Barkley was thought to be a 1st round pick but stayed and ended up as a 4th round pick. You take the money if you're projected as a 1st round pick.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:46 PM ^
But he could also pull an Andrew Luck, and stay up towards the top. I'll agree though, it's likely in his best interest to go after this year. That doesn't mean I'm not cheering for a fourth year though.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:01 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 11:13 PM ^
Yep, as much as I would hate to see him go you are right. As a QB you are scrutinized to such a high degree that if at any point during your college career you are projected as a 1st Rounder and you are draft eligible, the smart decision is to take the money and go. Your stock will almost certainly fall because of a bad game or two the next year and the risk for injury is too high.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:37 PM ^
(Unbelievably huge /s here if not obvious)
September 11th, 2013 at 9:44 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 9:42 PM ^
Is there an argument for Devin as the #1 overall QB in this class? I think so.
Teddy is more accurate, has better mechanics, and throws a better touch pass, but Devin is a little bit bigger, a better runner, and has a stronger arm. His accuracy and mechanics have gotten much better since he first took over and he still only has seven starts under his belt. Devin also has those lanky arms (like Colin K.) which make his play-fakes look more convincing. I think Devin has more potential than Teddy or Boyd, with those guys being more polished.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:44 PM ^
I think he has the potential, but he has to hone up his decision making if he wants to be #1 overall. I think he could if he stuck around next year and improved his reads/lessened mistakes. 3 interceptions (almost 4) in two games is too many if he wants to be the top overall pick.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:49 PM ^
Should have thrown decision making in there as well. Devin still has made at least one very bad decision in every start so far so he needs to improve in that regard as well. Staying one more season will help him improve there. If he stays one more year he will enter the 2014 season as the top QB prospect. Of course, that only leads to everyone picking your game apart like crazy so it isn't always the best position to be in lol.
September 11th, 2013 at 11:11 PM ^
September 12th, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^
Teddy's arm is stronger. The ball comes off his hands with more velocity than Devin.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:43 PM ^
I know I'm on a Michigan blog, but the bias in this thread is ridiculous. If Devin keeps up this pace, he should absolutely go to the NFL after this season. Think about this:
1) Devin already has his degree. This will not keep him in Ann Arbor. I know he loves his teammates and the University, but with Gallon, Lewan and Schofield all graduating, he might feel it is his time to go as well (although I hope not).
2) If he stays healthy, he will have 17 (hopefully 18) starts under his belt. Now that our offense mirrors many current NFL offenses, he will have enough experience to warrant being a first round pick.
3) His physical tools are phenomenal. Tall, mobile, accurate. He needs to work on footwork and arm strength, but those can be improved through hard work. He has the genetics needed to be a star QB.
4) His mental tools are also outstanding. Devin is a really bright guy. He already has command of the playbook, and I believe he has free reign to audible when he wants. There might not be much more for him to learn with another year going against defenses like Akron and Indiana.
If Devin's draft stock is high enough, he should strike while the iron is hot. We've seen what can happen when you stay that extra year after having a great one (Leinart lost millions when he passed up leaving to take ballroom dancing; Matt Barkley and Landry Jones come to mind as recent QBs who stayed one year too long). I would love nothing more to get another year of Devin Gardner, but I'm preparing for him to leave after this year. And I will be very happy for him if he finds himself in that situation.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ^
September 11th, 2013 at 11:12 PM ^
Now do Gardner.
/just annoyed to have seen three mis-spelling's (in one day) of the name of the QB of the University of Michigan Football Team. Devin Gardner.
September 11th, 2013 at 11:46 PM ^
Wishful thinking. Losing both tackles, RB, and favorite target is difficult to overlook.