Devin Gardner Featured in Feldman Elite 11 Article

Submitted by MGoShoe on

Devin Gardner continues his offseason preps by serving as an Elite 11 counselor alongside Johnny Football, Tajh Boyd and Teddy Bridgewater among others. Bruce Feldman reports.

Devin Gardner sits alone in a sixth-floor hotel boardroom studying a binder full of some 200 plays at 9:20 a.m. on Friday morning. The room has been turned into a classroom setting with five rows of seats, a projector screen up front and a big whiteboard to the right. The chiseled 6-foot-4, 215-pound Michigan quarterback is seated in the first row of desks. He's 40 minutes early.

Gardner is determined to always try to be the first one to show up for meetings, and this time, he is. The group gathering in the hotel is here for the first staff meeting of the 2013 Elite 11.

I have no doubt that Gardner is planning for 2013 to be his final year at Michigan, and events like these are designed to increase his readiness for the season and show the NFL that he'll be ready for the 2014 draft. Definitely worth a read. 

[Edit: Whatever you think of my prediction regarding how long Gardner will stay at Michigan, that comment is really beside the point. Read the article and learn about what kind of summer he's having. Then get even more excited about the upcoming season.]

yoyo

June 29th, 2013 at 4:44 PM ^

I hope he stays both years :( 

He only gets one chance to collect a second Heisman and win a second national championship after blowing OSU.

JayMo4

June 29th, 2013 at 5:01 PM ^

I remember Glenn Robinson saying at whatever AA game he was playing in that he'd be at Michigan four years.  A lot can change in a short period of time.

Me personally, I'll be thrilled if he gives us one great season.  If he plays like a first round draft pick this year, we're going to win a lot of games, and probably the Big 10.  Hard to hate on the guy for leaving after that.  I'd love him to play two, but I'll feel lucky if we get one special season.

julesh

June 29th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^

After seeing the result of Barkley staying an extra year, I would hope everyone would encourage Devin to leave if he's projected to be a first rounder. Especially since he already has his degree.

julesh

June 30th, 2013 at 2:29 AM ^

Huh? What does that have to do with what I said? The degree part is an extra reason why IF DEVIN IS A PROJECTED FIRST ROUND PICK he should leave. If he's not seen as being that high a draft pick, anyway, he doesn't risk losing out on millions of dollars by staying. Granted, I was a bit young in the mid 90s to follow draft prospects, but looking at Griese's stats, he was backup in '96, so I imagine there was never a risk that he would drafted in an early round after that year.

julesh

June 30th, 2013 at 4:21 PM ^

This year's QB class was extremely weak, especially compared to 2012, but Barkley still fell from a likely first rounder to the fourth round. Shit happens, and with his degree in his hand, if Devin is projected to be a first rounder in 2014, I would hope everyone would encourage him to go.

go16blue

June 29th, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^

Isn't Devin on year 1 of his Master's now? I get that it doesn't mean much, and people leave for the NFL in the middle of a degree all the time, but I don't see why he would work extra hard to graduate in 3 years and start on a Master's unless he was planning on finishing it, which would mean 5 years here. Of course, first round money can change a lot of plans, but all things considered he seems like the type of guy (very mature, businesslike, very smart) who would stay all 5.

Double Wolverine

June 30th, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^

I recently graduated and stuck around 1 more year to get a Master's (hence Double Wolverine) since U of M does a great job of letting you take graduate classes as an undergrad and they let you double count a few classes, allowing students to get a Master's in 1 or 1.5 years. I'm not sure about Devin's specific program, but if he really wants a Master's degree and wants to leave for the NFL after this year, there are ways to do it.

MGoShoe

June 29th, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^

...he's going to have a superior 2013 season and his NFLDAB eval will be very hard to ignore.   Gardner has the physical tools that are coveted in NFL QBs (size, arm strength, speed) and is working hard to develop his field awareness, grasp of a pro style offense and field generalship.

I have a very hard time believing that he would be swayed to stay because he's in the middle of a master's program. 

 

evenyoubrutus

June 29th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^

I agree with everything you said about his abilities but it seems pretty well documented now that the most valuable tool an NFL QB can have is experience in leadership. He will have had 1 1/2 seasons under his belt, and really only one in which it was "his team." I think even if he has a 30td-10int season it would be wise for him to stay, and not every player is focused on making big bucks ASAP. I think it is very hard to know what his plans are or what he's thinking in regards to his NFL career.

NoMoPincherBug

June 29th, 2013 at 10:12 PM ^

No offense intended towards your post...but the reality is that if Devin has a 30-10 season, he will be more than likely gone to the NFL draft, and should be gone if he knows what is best for him. A season like that with his ability will put him in the first round of the draft where he could be set for life.

Eastside Maize

June 29th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^

Gardner is a tremendous athlete. He went from one the top receivers on our squad to a top 3 B10 quarterback. Can't wait to see Gardner on a naked bootleg throwing to Funchess streaking across the middle.

Sideline

June 29th, 2013 at 5:23 PM ^

I think Gardner will be around both years; however, with that said, if he does leave- 2014's schedule is not a terrible one to break in a QB other than the ridiculous @ND, @Sparty, & @ohio...

LSAClassOf2000

June 29th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^

"I'm also here because I really want to help the kids get better," Gardner says. "When I was at the Elite 11 in high school (then counselor and UTEP QB) Jordan Palmer helped me so much." Gardner said he really threw a flat ball and Palmer tweaked his footwork and delivery."

This is another example of something that we've seen out of Devin Gardner many times throughout his career at Michigan - putting in extra work and effort when he doesn't necessarily need to do so and giving his best effort in support of a larger effort, whether it is as our QB or, in this case, a counselor at the Elite 11. It's awesome that he wants to give back to the Elite 11 when it seems to have benefited him so much, and it is yet another reason to be proud of the player and person that Devin Gardner has become.  

Perkis-Size Me

June 29th, 2013 at 7:36 PM ^

That a boy, Devin. Don't focus on the Heisman. Don't focus on All-America lists. Just focus on school and that playbook, bettering yourself in every way that you can, and getting the Maize and Blue back to Pasadena, whether its for the Rose Bowl, or something even better.

Sten Carlson

June 29th, 2013 at 7:44 PM ^

I would be surprised if DG leaves for the NFL after the 2013 season, baring a Heisman/NC Championship season.  I think DG, more than anyone, knows just much room he has for improvement.  I think he's going to know that his ability to play, and succeed, at the next level is going to improve substantially by playing his 5th year in college.  That is not always the case -- look at what happened to Matt Barkely.  But, he was a starter from day one at USC, if I am not mistaken.

I wouldn't blame him if he left, but I think that he's going to stay.

drewro02

June 29th, 2013 at 8:00 PM ^

He did win best in the classroom when he was at the Elite 11 himself. I don't think Devin's work ethic has ever come into question. He seems like a great kid, and I'm proud to root for him as a Michigan fan.

beevo

June 29th, 2013 at 8:24 PM ^

I don't see how Gardner doesn't have an amazing season.  I absolutely believe he is still flying under the radar.  I spent some time on 11W today and that fan base thinks he is a joke.  I know, I know, we are talking Bucknuts here but I was shaking my head and thinking, "Garnder can be scary good this year and better than Miller."  I look for a big year from our QB along with a rebound year of play-calling for Borges.

Mr. Yost

June 29th, 2013 at 8:35 PM ^

Just my opinion, but I think DG is going to have a year for the ages. He's so talented, maybe the most gifted QB we've had sicne Henson. He's now maturing and learning how to play the position and everything I read and see points to a big year. I'm really looking forward to this team, I think they could be leathal once all of the pieces are in place. CAN'T WAIT FOR FALL CAMP!

PurpleStuff

June 29th, 2013 at 8:47 PM ^

Those are the current odds I'm finding on a "Gardner for Heisman" bet.  Considering Everett Golson is still posted at 18/1, I think I'm getting pretty sweet value.