The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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their pro-style offense, as ingrained in their culture, bodes well going forward in terms of attracting recruits and putting quarterbacks in the NFL." Southern Cal ranked first on Fisch- er's list, with Michigan State also rep- resenting the Big Ten, slotted at ninth. The Maize and Blue could gain some upward mobility if their next quarterback, fifth-year senior Devin Gardner, also ends up a starting NFL QB. Scouts are unconvinced at the moment, however, that he's a guaran- teed success on the next level, but he has a chance to impress. "It all depends on his development this year under [offensive coordina- tor] Doug Nussmeier, who I think is a great addition to that staff," Fischer said. "He really did a nice job with that Alabama offense and got [QB] AJ McCarron to play up to his poten- tial." "It all comes down to how Gardner develops this year as a passer. Does he make better decisions? Is he accu- rate? Can he make every throw con- sistently? Does he prove to be a good leader in the huddle? "He has all the measurables, the right height and size going back to when I saw him out on the West Coast in the Elite 11, and we've seen some really great performances, but not the consistency." The uncertainty surrounding Gard- ner is a bit surprising. In his career, the Detroit native has completed 59.7 percent of his pass attempts with a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio of 34 TDs to 17 picks. He boasts a career pass efficiency rating of 149.24, better than any of the seven U-M QBs that made Fischer's list — ahead of Grbac (148.14), Collins (145.03) and Henson (140.82). Brady's rating stood at just 136.43 when he finished his senior season in 1999. What each of the quarterbacks to make the NFL had in common was a strong senior campaign to cap their careers, giving the professional scouts confidence that they could thrive on the next level. Gardner's best came in 2013, when he completed 60.3 percent of his attempts for 2,960 yards, 21 touch- downs and 11 interceptions. With his ground-game prowess — he has rushed for 658 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career — Gardner would seemingly be the ideal fit in an NFL that is featuring a new crop of athletic QBs, but the very thing that makes him multi-dimensional is also hurting his stock. "There is some argument that he's more of a running, dual-threat kind of guy, more of an athlete like Denard Robinson was, and he's in Jackson- ville trying to make it as a running back," Fischer said, incredulously. "This is a big year because Gardner needs to prove his biggest strength is his arm and his ability to be a pocket passer. We know he can improvise and throw on the run, but is he a guy that is comfortable in the pocket? If he answers that question resoundingly, he'll get his chance in the NFL." ❏ Associate Editor Michael Spath has been with The Wolverine since 2002. Contact him at mspath@thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Spath_Wolverine.