'10 MI QB Devin Gardner (Michigan Verbal)

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From BP:

Originally Posted by osugrad21

BG$--Gardner continues to impress

Devin says tOSU wants film before offering and he may attend The Game.

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Friday, November 28, 2008
Sam Webb: Recruiting
Inkster junior ready now



For Inkster junior quarterback Devin Gardner, Saturday's state-title matchup with East Grand Rapids is the culmination of a yearlong journey from potential star to proven one. Win or lose, he has made great strides in his first year on the team, and he has the statistics and scholarship offers to prove it.

Even as a freshman at U-D Jesuit, Gardner was highly regarded for his playmaking ability. Unfortunately for him, that season and the one subsequent to it featured little success. Throughout that time, he was given the particularly daunting task of getting young men two and three years his senior to follow him.

"That was real tough," Gardner now admits. "I was immature. I was only 14. I was real immature. I wasn't mentally ready to play a varsity sport."

Readiness, many times, is not a prerequisite for being thrust into action. That's especially true when the choice is between athletic ability and inexperience. In retrospect, though, Gardner's trial under fire was an invaluable piece of his development. It made leading a team of established players at Inkster this season a much smoother process.

Continued...

Coach works wonders
While those camp experiences were beneficial, most of Gardner's metamorphosis is directly attributable to his work with his high school team.

"Coach Carter treated me like we'd been knowing each other for a long time," Gardner said. "He treated me like I had been playing for him since I was in ninth grade. He took me under his wing and taught me a lot of new stuff.

"I feel like I did pretty well because Coach Carter is always reminding me after almost every play that I don't have to do it myself. When I'm running now, I'm looking downfield the whole time to make sure there is nobody open -- then (if no one is) I take off."

Continued...

Offers from Bowling Green, Toledo, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin prove the lofty praise is warranted. The Spartans and Wolverines already are working hard to keep the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder in-state. Both programs have made strong early impressions.

"Michigan State said that I'm one of their top priorities and that I would fit in well," Gardner said. "They said I could come in and probably play if I work hard.

"I think I can fit into Michigan real easy," he continued. "They run the exact same offense that we run right now. I already knew the spread offense, but I'm learning (more). I'm doing everything better -- way better. If I go to Michigan, I wouldn't have to adjust that much."

OSU a possibility
The biggest threat to the in-state rivals might come from Ohio State. The Buckeyes were Gardner's favorite growing up.

"They coming at me very hard," Gardner said. "They said they wanted to see some film. They want to offer me, but I need to send film first."

Even if Jim Tressel does extend a scholarship, don't expect a commitment from Gardner to OSU, or any other school, anytime soon. He is content to take a patient approach to better assess all of his options.

"There is not really a timeline (to make a decision)," he said. "If I find the right school at the right time, then I will just choose that school. I've still got to do a lot of research. That's why all the schools are really even right now."

Inkster junior ready now | The Detroit News | detnews.com

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Scout $

1/16

From the ND site. The Irish have offered.

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Midwest Recruiting Blog - ESPN

Devin Gardner (Inkster, Mich./Inkster) is the top class of 2010 quarterback in the Midwest and has the scholarship offer list to prove it. That list includes Michigan State, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Purdue and Cincinnati.

Gardner's list recently added another significant member.

"Notre Dame offered me on Friday," Gardner said. "My coach told me to give them a call. I talked to Coach (Charlie) Weis and he offered. I was excited. It's really exciting."

However, Gardner says he has no plans to make a commitment anytime soon. He visited a number of schools during the football season and plans to continue to check out his options.

Gardner will either attend Notre Dame's junior day on Saturday or Ohio State's on Sunday. He also plans to visit Michigan State at the end of the month and Michigan in February.

"I don't have any favorites," Gardner said. "I won't be deciding (on a college) anytime soon."

The 6-foot-4 and 205-pound Gardner passed for 1,886 yards during his junior season. He threw for 26 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. Gardner also rushed for 1,401 yards and scored 22 times.

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Rivals $

1/25

From the OSU site...talks about meeting the OSU staff and seeing the facilities...talks about what the staff told him as far as an offer is concerned.

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Scout $ - Gardner's Double Dip Weekend

1/26

By Trieu...nothing new...heard alot of what he has already hear from Michigan and was not surprised by OSU's facilities because he expected them to be nice.

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Midwest Recruiting Blog - ESPN

Recruiters looking for a quarterback for their 2010 recruiting class will want to stop in the state of Michigan. There are at least three outstanding junior quarterbacks in Michigan who already have Big Ten scholarship offers on the table.

Some interesting recruiting battles are already taking shape. Michigan State and Michigan will be right in the middle of the action, but there are plenty of other suitors for the big three as well.

Sitting at the top of the list is Devin Gardner (Inkster, Mich./Inkster). Gardner threw for 1,886 yards and 26 touchdowns during his junior season. He rushed for 1,401 yards and scored 22 times.

The 6-foot-4 and 205-pound Gardner has scholarship offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue, Nebraska and a few others. He recently attended a junior day at Ohio State and was invited to one at Notre Dame.

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2/12

By A Trieu. LSU has offered.

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Scout $ - Gardner Landing Offers, But Not From OSU

2/12

By Jardy...looking for a school with an offense he can succeed in and solid academics...isn't worried about who has offered and who has not because he is focused on basketball...will begin to narrow things down this summer.

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Devin Gardner removes tO$U from list | mgoblog

Per Josh at TheWolverine, Devin Gardner had tO removed from his Rivals profile. He is no longer considering the Buckeyes.

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Midwest Recruiting Blog - ESPN

2/24/09

Gardner received an offer from WVA, putting him at 14.

Gardner enjoyed the Spartans' junior day on Sunday.
"It was pretty cool," he said. "I went to the Michigan State-Wisconsin basketball game. They honored their national championship basketball team. I met Magic Johnson. It was nice. And I talked to the Michigan State (football) coaches."

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Scout $

3/12

From the UM site. Committed to Michigan.

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QB Gardner set to announce - ESPN

4/3/09

Gardner expected to announce his commitment to Michigan today. Chose UM over LSU, ND, UW, Iowa and MSU