While Devin Gardner said “it was amazing how much better (the quarterback competition this spring) made me,” the incumbent at the position --despite his pre-spring proclamation -- exited the 15 practice sessions without a firm grasp on the starting job.
How tenuous Gardner’s hold on the job was further demonstrated by head coach Brady Hoke, who stated Friday “he might” when asked if Gardner would be his starter when the 2014 regular season commenced. Gardner and Shane Morris have been engaged in what appeared to be a neck-and-neck battle to lead the Wolverines offense throughout the spring.
When asked about Morris, Hoke was damn-near effusive, relative to his tepid comments Morris’ competition, in his praise.
“I thought Shane had a good spring,” Hoke said according to mlive.com. “Was it flawless? No. But I think he learned more about the urgency that he has to have to be the quarterback at Michigan.
“I thought he had a good spring.”
Gardner started every game last season before a foot injury he suffered in the loss to Ohio State in the regular-season finale sidelined him for the Wolverines’ bowl game. In his first career start, and as a true freshman no less, Morris completed 24-of-38 passes for 196 yards and interception as UM dropped a 31-14 decision to Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.