Devin Gardner Interview

Devin Gardner is the quarterback for Inkster, and is looking to win a State Championship this weekend, as a junior. [Note: Inkster lost to EGR 43-24 in the state finals; this interview took place before that. –ed]

His team is obviously having a great year, but Gardner's individual stats stick out as well. He has 47 total TD's, 25 passing and 22 running, with only 6 INT's. He looks to take that success to a State Championship against East Grand Rapids. He hasn't been able to put 100% into his recruitment yet, but says he'll be able to narrow things down after his basketball season. Here's what he had to say.

TOM:   What do you think has lead to your improvement from last year to this year?

DEVIN:   Coach Carter helped me, he didn’t accept anything but perfection. We focused on throwing, decision making, and running. We run a mixture of a spread, the read option and pass, so it’s important to make good decisions.

TOM:   What have you focused on when trying to improve?

DEVIN:   I can always improve my decision making. I’m over 60% with my completion percentage, so that’s good.  I just practice every play hard, so when game time comes, I know where my teams going to be. So in time it’s going to get better, and easier.

TOM:   What goals do you want to accomplish for your senior year?

DEVIN:   I want to win a state championship this year. Next year, I want to do the same thing. I don’t really want the individual award. If we win state then that means I did a good job.

TOM:   When do you think you’ll really start to get into the recruiting process, and start to analyze schools?

DEVIN:   I took a few visits, but haven’t really gotten into it yet, I’m still focused on state championships. I’m going to focus more during basketball season.

TOM:  Are there already some schools that have you thinking about them?

DEVIN:   Not really, all the schools are equal right now. I guess if I had to name the top right now it’s Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State, Michigan State, those are a few that have been in contact with me.

TOM:   I heard that you said Ohio State is a school you really like, what about them sticks out to you?

DEVIN:   When I was younger, I didn’t pay attention to the actual football game, but  my favorite color was red, and they always won. I never knew about the Michigan, Ohio state rivalry, but they’ve always been good. They just continue to win, that’s what sticks out.

TOM:   So does playing early factor into your decision?

DEVIN:  Possibly. Anywhere I go there’s going to be competition, but it may come into play.

TOM:   What about the style of offensive scheme, will that matter?

DEVIN:   It doesn’t matter, because I’m getting better at throwing so it doesn’t matter. Plays are always going to break down, so if I’m in pro I can show my athleticism. Whether it’s designed to run or not, I’ll still be able to run.

TOM:   Have you started building any relationships with coaches?

DEVIN:   I talk to a lot of coaches, everyone that’s offered me. Most of the coaches talk about my family, and how I’m doing in school, they all are trying to build personal relationship.

TOM:   Lately, there’s been some comparison with yourself and Robert Bolden, what do you bring to the field that he doesn’t? What sets you apart from the quarterbacks in your class?

DEVIN:   I’m more athletic, and I’ve got great speed. My determination, I just want to win. I can’t speak for them, but I know I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. There are also a lot of athletes, not just quarterbacks, and I’m a quarterback that’s athletic.

TOM:   Have you gotten to take any unofficial visits to any schools yet?

DEVIN:   Yea, I went to Notre Dame, Bowling Green, Toledo, Michigan, MSU, and Ohio State for the Nike camp.

TOM:   As a quarterback, how do you decide what school is really best for you?

DEVIN:   That’s the toughest part, because that’s the most important decision of my life. My mom, brother, and coach Carter talk about what school is best. Ultimately it’s my decision, but they’ll help.

TOM:  Do you want to try to go where any of your teammates go?

DEVIN:   It would be nice if they could, but I want them to go where is best for them. That would be selfish of me. I tell coaches about them, because they work hard. From my class we have a really good wide receiver, Jonathon Taylor.

TOM:   A question that a lot of people having been asking is about Michigan’s losing season. Can you weigh in on it? From a recruits point of view, how does this season, and the losing record factor in?

DEVIN:   It really doesn’t bother me that much, because I saw Michigan last year, and it was totally different. They haven’t gotten their players yet. I can see the system will work, it’s just not working because the players aren’t doing the right things, or plays are breaking down. Once they get the right players, and the others used to it, they’ll be good.

TOM:  Have you developed any relationships with other recruits yet?

DEVIN:   Yea, Austin White, Nick Hill, we met at the Notre Dame game, Jeremy Jackson, Ricardo Miller, Robert Bolden, and Joe Boyster.