Devin still might be able to EE!!!!!!!

Submitted by Smitty D on

"Ten minutes ago Michigan received a fax that Devin has completed his high school requirements," Inkster coach Will McMichael told us. "He has to get through [Michigan's] admissions, but there's still a possibility [for early enrollment]."

Now, Michigan's admissions and the NCAA had previously cleared Gardner for early enrollment, but Inkster High had not graduated him. Now that they are graduating him, can Michigan still get him into classes? The answer is that there is still a shot of that happening... but a final answer on that may not come until later this weekend. We'll let you know as soon as we know.

LINK is behind paywall

GBOD79

January 15th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^

Allen Trieu of Scout posted an interview with an Inkster teacher. Basically the teacher said that the school felt that they couldnt hold Devin back and that he is such a good kid. The board held a special meeting and approved his graduation. The ball is now in M's court.

Wendyk5

January 15th, 2010 at 6:49 PM ^

I'm disturbed knowing that males can get excited over pretty much anything - a young man enrolling in college early, for instance, or bathroom tile. And I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. This blog keeps me on my toes, for sure.

edit - see some of the last entries or this will make no sense.

ajscipione

January 15th, 2010 at 7:00 PM ^

to get here early to be able to begin absorbing the play book, get into Barwis shape, and start getting some reps. If that can happen then I do believe he will get at least some playing time this fall and can help the team..

Don

January 15th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^

If Gardner plays, that means that Tate and/or Denard have faltered horribly or have gotten injured. If they stay healthy and progress the way that is normal for sophomore QBs, Devin Gardner will redshirt, get Barwisized, learn the playbook, improve his mechanics, and mature. That's the best possible thing for him and for the team. The last thing RR needs is having to start a pure freshman QB for the third year in a row. And if Gardner isn't starting, it would be absolutely crazy to burn his redshirt simply for mop-up duty in blowouts. Let's all be patient and look toward 2011-2014 for Devin.

BiSB

January 15th, 2010 at 7:46 PM ^

The rational observer in me knows that he could really use a year on the bench, and that a year at the back end of his college career would be much more valuable...

But then I watch this:

And the irrational fan in me reeeeeeally wants to see him on the field...

Clarence Beeks

January 15th, 2010 at 8:43 PM ^

The one thing that makes that position a little less irrational is that DG has experience running the zone read already, which is something that Tate didn't have much of before he came. As much as Tate is clearly a better passer, I really wonder how much better Tate will be by the start of the season at making those reads, because let's be honest here for a minute, Tate had A LOT of missed reads on the zone read this year. Basically one of those learning curve type things where since DG has experience in it already he'll pick it up faster.

Togaroga

January 15th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^

You win...+1 for you.

This is the absolute truth. We should all be hoping for Tate to take a huge step forward. Our offense was borderline explosive last year, and a reasonable improvement is expected. Tate did OK when he was injured. If he gets better, we'll be great.

I am very pumped for Devin, but I'm most excited for him to redshirt, absorb the offense, and Barwiscize (did anyone claim that term, yet?) In 2011 and 2012 he'll play regular snaps and claim a real piece of our NC.

The Other Brian

January 16th, 2010 at 12:15 AM ^

I've never said or thought that he'd beat out Tate and Denard for the starting position. But he brings a physical presence to the table that neither Tate nor Denard can.

I don't have a crystal ball, so who knows what will happen in the spring, summer and fall, but I know for a fact that the UM coaches recruited Devin with the thought of him playing next season. If he gets in early, the chances of that happening only increase.

bjk

January 15th, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^

are creating a hostile blog environment for nose-pickers.

Anyway, in the worst case, this will enhance DG's capacity for dealing with difficult people. (Since he has such a well-established work ethic, it won't matter that dreg roommates will make the film room look more inviting by comparison.)

BlueinOK

January 16th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^

to see him play spring ball. I know everyone was excited to see Tate play for the first time in the spring, and if DG comes he should be fun to watch. After that, we shouldn't see him on the field for a while. A redshirt should be in his future.