With classes out, Michigan's Devin Gardner went to school | Detroit Free Press | freep.com CLASSIFIEDS: CARS JOBS HOMES APARTMENTS CLASSIFIEDS SHOPPING News MORE: A Better Michigan Detroit Self-Portrait e-Edition E-CIRCULARS Sports DealChicken 7/31/13 7:20 AM DAILY DEALS Michigan Business ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE Entertainment Life Better Michigan Obits Find what you are looking for ... Detroit financial crisis Help SEARCH ADVERTISEMENT With classes out, Michigan's Devin Gardner went to school 1:38 PM, July 27, 2013 | Recommend 0 Recommend 0 Comments Tweet 0 0 Be the first of your friends to recommend this. A A ADVERTISEMENT Seahawks' worst fears on Percy Harvin come true Michigan Wolverines quarterback Devin Gardner is interviewed during the Big Ten media day at the Chicago Hilton. / Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports by Mark Snyder, USA TODAY Sports FILED UNDER USA Today Sports USA Today NCAAF CHICAGO - Watching at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La., this month, Fox Sports analyst Charles Davis was surprised to see Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner's skills. "He has the charisma, he has the leadership, he has that presence, that 'it' factor," Davis said this week at the Big Ten media day. "Watching him throw the football is pretty nice. Good footwork, good balance, the ball comes off of his hand really well, nice compact delivery. There's nothing about him that didn't register right when you watched him. I could feel it from the different guys who were doing the evaluating. He would throw and throw, and as it went on the enthusiasm kept bubbling over. By the end, you almost http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/2591885 Cy Young winner to Red Sox in 3-team trade Dodgers sign ex-Giants closer Wilson Next football helmet innovation: Exterior padding Vonn joins Tiger for PGA championship practice Page 1 of 5 With classes out, Michigan's Devin Gardner went to school | Detroit Free Press | freep.com Sponsored Links 7/31/13 7:20 AM couldn't take it anymore. It was a lot of fun to watch." Florida QB undergoes emergency surgery Try Social Marketing Free Simple Social Media Marketing Tool. Schedule Tweets & Status Updates! http://www.verticalresponse.com Travel Guard® Insurance 20+ Years of Travel Experience! Coverage Starting at $30. www.travelguard.com/International That was only part of the Devin Gardner experience as he toured the country - from Chicago where he worked with QB guru George Whitfield Jr. to Oregon with the Elite 11 camp and then finally with the Mannings at their annual event. Upgrade and Go Adrian Peterson will follow NFL rule 'as best I can' NFL cheerleader is an Iraq war veteran Parents' tempers flare at little league game More National Headlines Book Now for Free upgrades and up to $350 to spend on board www.ncl.com ADVERTISEMENT As he enters his first season as Michigan's incumbent starter, Gardner is leaving nothing to chance. Even though there was no local blueprint for his adventure. "I always knew those things were opportunities, but I didn't plan the summer like I'm going to go to this and this. I just decided, I want to get better," he said. "Anything that could help me get better, I was going to do that. The Manning camp and Whitfield being in the same place (Chicago) where I was going to be, those are all things where I can get better and compare my skills to other great quarterbacks." Most Popular Most Commented More Headlines Detroit Tigers acquire shortstop Jose Iglesias from Boston as Jhonny Peralta suspension looms 1 Jeff Seidel: With Brandon Jennings trade, Detroit Pistons finally look like playoff contender 2 National columnist: If Jhonny Peralta won't fight suspension, he's quitting on Detroit Tigers 3 Even though Gardner has started only five games at quarterback at Michigan, the final five of 2012 after Denard Robinson injured his elbow, he's already entering that class with the nation's best. Whether Gardner deserves the classification, the experts saw enough in that small sample. So Gardner got approval from offensive coordinator Al Borges and consulted his friend, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, who had gone through some of the camps before. It helped that Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke already had connections and respect for all of Gardner's stops, plus no fear they would cloud his thinking. 4 Mark Wahlberg on Jimmy Fallon: 'Detroit is a great, great city' Jeff Seidel: Detroit Lions rookie CB Darius Slay keeps up with big guys, like Calvin Johnson 5 Most Viewed "How can't you respect Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning? He learned a lot," Hoke said. "I think it's been good. ... When I asked him what'd you learn? As long as he learned something, and there's an affirmation on what he's been taught (at Michigan), that's been huge." For all those lessons, Hoke and Borges will finally get their hands on him when camp starts Aug. 5 to see his summer progress. Gardner has so many natural tools - the throwing mechanics are solid, and his legs make him a dangerous running threat - that their focus will be on his head. Wolverines talk Buckeyes and more at B1G media day Jul. 25, 2013 PHOTO GALLERIES Decision-making will be the primary point, hoping to avoid the Wolverines' 18 turnovers from last year's five losses. Gardner had http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/2591885 Page 2 of 5 With classes out, Michigan's Devin Gardner went to school | Detroit Free Press | freep.com 7/31/13 7:20 AM five interceptions in his five starts. He won over teammates by moving to receiver 18 months ago, putting his quarterback dreams on hold. But Gardner's greatest strength might be his expanded maturity, seeing the wider game. That was his takeaway from the Manning camp. "It's not even football-related, but Peyton and Eli are such different people and they lead in such different ways and they're both successful," Gardner said. "That was refreshing for me, to see you don't have to be a certain type of person to lead or be successful at the next level or below." SPONSORED LINKS by Taboola The 5 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer Weird Trick Adds $1,000 to Social Se… Newsmax Health Newsmax If he didn't know before, Davis said Gardner realizes it now: All eyes are on him. Mark Snyder also writes for the Detroit Free Press, a Gannett company. *** Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com ADVERTISEMENT Read the original story: With classes out, Michigan's Devin Gardner went to school View Comments | Share your thoughts » YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SPONSORED LINKS Detroit Tigers land RP Jose Veras in trade with… 15 Hot Wives of College Football Coaches (Rant Sports) Umpire explains why he ejected Detroit Tigers' Miguel… Fantasy Football Busts: Top 8 Players to Avoid (Fox Sports) Iowa soldier-mayor blows the whistle on war fraud Mobile, Ala.: Still One of America’s Worst and Most… Ravenel says he was not drunk, plans to fight N.Y. 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National columnist: If Jhonny Peralta won't fight suspension, he's quitting on Detroit Tigers Spanish police seek caller to train crash driver Human waste-fouled, Traverse City splash pad to remain dry for now 4. Mark Wahlberg on Jimmy Fallon: 'Detroit is a great, great city' Bodies of 2 people found in Port Huron 5. Jeff Seidel: Detroit Lions rookie CB Darius Slay keeps up with big guys, like Calvin Johnson 6. Clinton Township Police arrest neighbor in connection with slaying of mother, daughter Sign up for home delivery today. 7. Detroit Pistons trading Brandon Knight to ADVERTISEMENT Site Map | Back to Top NEWS SPORTS MICHIGAN BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT HELP Politics Lions Auto news Music Advertise Detroit Tigers Auto reviews Restaurants Archives Wayne County Red Wings General Motors Movies Contact us Oakland County Pistons Ford Arts Subscriber services Macomb County Wolverines Chrysler TV and radio e-Edition Metro Detroit Spartans Detroit auto show Names & Faces Got a question? 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