The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/137378
"A lot of my friends growing up didn't have anyone to talk to, and it maybe forces you to go a different route that isn't good for you long term. All I really want to do with my life is help those people no one else is helping, and while my passion is social work, I know having a business background can be an asset." Gardner is entering a new phase in school, but also on the football field, where he is stepping into the void created by Robinson's departure. He is taking over the huddle permanently after starting four games in 2012 and is emerging, like most quarterbacks do, as the heart of the team. "The way he handles himself in the locker room, the weight room, on the practice field and on the sidelines, he's a guy that every- "The way he handles himself in the locker room, the weight room, on the practice field and on the sidelines, he's a guy that everyone rallies around. He has an energy, a work ethic and a will to win." Fifth-year senior left tackle Taylor Lewan on Gardner one rallies around. He has an energy, a work ethic and a will to win," fifth-year senior left tackle Taylor Lewan said. "Quarterbacks occupy a special role on most teams, but not everyone is comfortable in that spotlight. Devin is a guy that has all the physical tools and then all of the intangibles. He brings incredible leadership to this team." Destined For His Starting Opportunity Gardner was the perfect specimen to run Rich Rodriguez's spread offense when he was recruited out of Inkster in the class of 2010. Robinson had the legs to be a dynamic runner but not the arm. Tate Forcier had the passing acumen but not the running prowess. Gardner possessed both, and was destined to push the other two aside eventually, potentially as early as his sophomore year. When Brady Hoke arrived in 2011, however, Robinson was the lynchpin to a smooth transition, and there were days Gardner wondered if he would ever be given the opportunity to wrestle the position away. "Since I was 6 years old, I've been the starting quarterback, and it's really tough when you've started your entire career and Devin Gardner Not Alone In Replacing A Michigan Legend Redshirt junior Devin Gardner has the unenviable task of replacing a legend in Denard Robinson, but he can take comfort knowing that a great many before him faced similar challenges. Here are 10 transcendent Wolverine offensive skill players over the last 50 years and the men who would step into their roles the following season. Ron Johnson and Billy Taylor: The first runner in Michigan history to eclipse 1,000 yards (1,005 in 1967) — a feat he would accomplish again the next fall — Johnson departed in 1968 as U-M's all-time leading rusher with 2,440 yards. Taylor took over in 1969, averaged 6.1 yards per carry in his sophomore campaign, and proceeded to lead the Maize and Blue in rushing for three seasons, ultimately passing his former teammate to the tune of 3,072 yards. Jim Mandich and Paul Seymour: A tight end, Mandich led the Wolverines in receiving twice, with 43 receptions in 1968 and 50 in 1969, and to this day ranks second all time among U-M tight ends with 119 catches and 1,508 yards. He was also captain on Bo Schembechler's first team, directing Michigan to a Big Ten title in 1969. Seymour started all 10 games in 1970, making 13 grabs. Rob Lytle and Russell Davis: One of Schembechler's most celebrated players, Lytle rushed for a single-season-record 1,469 yards in earning first-team All-America honors in 1976, and walked away from U-M with 3,317 yards (a mark that would stand for five years). Davis had played second fiddle to Lytle during the record-setting season, rushing for 596 yards in 1976. The No. 1 back in 1977, he went for 1,092 yards and eight scores, and would wrap his career a year later, finishing with 2,550 yards. Rick Leach and John Wangler: The first true freshman in school history to start at quarterback (in 1975), Leach compiled a 38-8-2 record in his four-year career, leading U-M to Big Ten titles and Rose Bowl berths in 1976, 1977 and 1978. He also held the TD record (48) for 13 years. Wangler held the QB post each of the next two seasons and went 18-6, including a 10-2 mark in 1978 when Michigan finished in a tie for first in the Big Ten. Anthony Carter and Vince Bean: One of two three-time All-Americans in Michigan history, Carter rewrote every receiving record, concluding his career in 1982 ranked first in receptions (161), yards (3,076) and touchdowns (37). Bean put up modest numbers in following Carter, catching 29 balls in 1983 and another 29 in 1984. No one truly filled that void until Greg McMurtry arrived in 1986. Jamie Morris and Tony Boles: The diminutive Morris became the first U-M ball carrier in school history to lead the Wolverines in rushing four times, and he would obliterate the school's career rushing record by more than 500 yards, ultimately coming to rest with 4,393 when he departed in 1987. Boles stood in direct contrast to the 5-7 Morris, measuring 6-1. He went for 1,408 yards in 1988 and was on pace for another 1,000-yard season in 1989 when his career was cut down by injury in a matchup with Minnesota. Jim Harbaugh and Demetrius Brown: A first-team All-American quarterback, Harbaugh was 23-3-1 in his final two seasons under center (1985-86), leading U-M to a Fiesta Bowl win and an AP final ranking of No. 2 in 1985. He became the first QB in school history to throw for 5,000 yards (5,449). Brown struggled in 10 starts in 1987, completing only 47.6 percent of his 168 attempts and setting a dubious school record with 16 interceptions. Brown would lose his starting job the next year. Desmond Howard and Derrick Alexander: The 1991 Heisman Trophy Award winner, Howard established a single-season record that still stands with 19 touchdown receptions, ending his career with 134 grabs for 2,146 yards and 32 scores. Alexander was an accomplished No. 2 receiver and easily moved into the No. 1 role, catching 11 touchdowns in 1992 and snagging 85 balls for 1,361 yards in the 1992-93 seasons. Braylon Edwards and Jason Avant: Michigan's receiving records had gradually been creeping upwards, but Edwards demolished them, setting marks for single-season receptions (97) and yards (1,330) in 2004, and career marks for catches (252), yards (3,541) and touchdowns (39) from 2001-04. A complementary wideout, with 87 grabs in three seasons alongside Edwards, Avant went off for 82 receptions, 1,007 yards and eight touchdowns in his senior year. Mike Hart and Brandon Minor: Hart replaced Anthony Thomas (who had replaced Morris) as the all-time Jason Avant followed after Braylon rushing leader when he became the first U-M runner with Edwards with an 82-catch, 1,000- 5,000 yards (5,040) by the end of the 2007 campaign. Overall, he holds six of Michigan's eight career rushing yard, eight-TD senior season. Photo by wolverine photo records. Sam McGuffie (486 yards) and Minor (533 yards) both tried valiantly to replace Hart in 2008, but came up short. McGuffie would ultimately transfer, while Minor totaled just 1,035 yards from 2008-09. — Michael Spath 76 ■ The Wolverine 2013 Football Preview