Devin Gardner is Better Than You Comment Count

Tim

Just trust me on this one.

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Though his Inkster team fell to Ann Arbor Pioneer by a score of 35-32, Devin Gardner showed last night why he is considered one of the top prospects in the nation. After seeing 4.5 high school football games over the course of three days, it was painfully obvious which player was the best: Devin Gardner. After Friday's Huber Heights Wayne game, I walked away impressed with QB Braxton Miller, and fully understood why he is considered the top dual threat QB in the 2011 class. However, Gardner was on a whole different level, with game-changing ability that can't even be quantified at times. The best thing to do is simply go to the...

Video Evidence (High Def, baby!):


Gardner's final statline was approximately 10/13 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown, and 16 carries for 113 yards and another touchdown. He also had two incomplete passes on two-point conversions, and one successful run for 2 points. Gardner was hurt in the fourth quarter on a dive toward the pylon, and exited the game for two plays. However, as I tweeted, "On the third down he rose again," passing for a touchdown on fourth and goal.

Photo Gallery:



MGoBlog hopes to scout more Inkster games this year, and if nothing else, there's excitement practically guaranteed.

Comments

STAUDACHERBLUE

August 31st, 2009 at 8:18 AM ^

Thanks man the video is great and he has made huge strides since he JR year. It would have been great to see a really elite receiver on his team to help him out. The HD Video is great! Can I ask you what camera you were using?

Blue_n_Aww

August 31st, 2009 at 8:29 AM ^

At first I thought that Tim had just spliced together all of DG's sweetest plays and left out the bad. Then I saw a sack or an imcompletion & realized that, no, DG is just that sweet.

Blazefire

August 31st, 2009 at 8:47 AM ^

It's not just football, by the way. Devin Gardner is better than you in general. At everything. If this football thing doesn't work out, Devin Gardner is going to come take your job, because he's better than you at it.

wolverine1987

August 31st, 2009 at 8:55 AM ^

It seemed most pass plays DG was under extreme pressure, not sure if the video represents them fairly or not. DG looks good, and thanks very much guys for doing this.

NYWolverine

August 31st, 2009 at 9:34 AM ^

"Tim in the Morning", "Wake up, Michigan Nation", "Good Morning, MGoBlog"...

A few initial reactions to the HD: (1) DG shows excellent burst, once decision is made to run he commits, (2) throwing motion is improved, though footwork is rough and he often throws with his body open...which would mean he's generating all his power with his arm, (3) good instinct to follow blockers, just too bad they're all smaller than him, (4) needs to mature on his screens and lateral throwing; he half-assed a throw that will get him into a lot of trouble with faster DBs at the next level.

Altogether the kid is clearly a physical, coachable, talented player. The kind who looks a lot like a 5 star to me. I really hope he has the opportunity to redshirt and come into the college game with a bit more polish and high confidence. He's going to be fun to watch on Saturdays.

Brodie

August 31st, 2009 at 11:46 AM ^

From all accounts I've seen he looked like his rankings thus far have been accurate... he looks just like you'd expect a 4 star fringe top 150 guy to look. Which is something of a let down considering how hyped up he's been in our fanbase... but he may improve as he's further integrated into Pioneer's offense.

Sgt. Wolverine

August 31st, 2009 at 10:04 AM ^

Watching that game, it was obvious Gardner was in an entirely different athletic class than anybody else out there. I saw him in the playoffs last year, too, but since I was working that (miserably cold and wet) game, this was my first chance just to watch him play. It was worth it.

I was watching with a couple friends, and at the end of the game, one had an interesting comment: the difference in the game was coaching.

mth822

August 31st, 2009 at 10:38 AM ^

Physically, he(#7 Devin Gardner) has all the tools. He is taller, and moves side to side as well as he does when he squares his shoulders and runs up field. BUT, and I hate to sound like some crusty curmudgeon, he is not a jedi yet.

MichiganAggie

August 31st, 2009 at 1:22 PM ^

First off, how fucking cool is it that you're putting out free HD video of our recruits!!

Gardner looks good. However, he's definitely a different type of runner from Vince Young - he doesn't bounce/shake off tacklers.