Michigan head coach Brady Hoke said earlier this spring the quarterback competition was wide open. If Saturday was any indication, Hoke may keep selling that idea whether you want to believe it or not.
Not quite back to 100 percent, Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner did little to put the clamps down on the quarterback competition during the Wolverines’ spring game on Saturday. Gardner struggled in the passing game, completing just two of 10 pass attempts for 53 yards (44 of those yards came on one play). His top threat to the starting job under center, Shane Morris, was more consistent in completing five of 11 attempts for 73 yards.
Freshman wide receiver Freddy Canteen, an early enrollee, had a big day in his Michigan debut. Canteen led all players with 44 receiving yards, but that came on his only reception of the game. It just so happened to be the longest pass of the day, from Gardner.
Michigan’s running game got some work on Saturday as well. Four different running backs recorded at least six carries in the game. Justice Hayes had the longest run of the day on a 12-yard scamper late in the scrimmage.
Overall, the spring scrimmage did little to show Michigan has taken great strides from a season that ended up with seven wins. The Wolverines still have plenty of work to do before being able to challenge the likes of Ohio State and Michigan State in the Big Ten, but the spring scrimmage should not be viewed as the ultimate predictor for what will happen in the fall. The Wolverines are still putting some things together on both sides of the football and will return some key players before the start of the football season.