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Hoke Says Gardner Will Start Again Saturday

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

CBS DETROIT - Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner returned to the starting role Saturday against Rutgers, one week after being benched in favor of Shane Morris, and head coach Brady Hoke said Gardner has made progress.

"Devin is the starting quarterback," Hoke said Monday. "I thought Devin from a standpoint of running the offense, I think on some explosive plays that he ran, I thought he ran hard, with a purpose, thought he did a nice job. We had a little I think mix-up on a route when the interception [happened], but overall, I thought, number one, his leadership was outstanding. When you're on that sideline and the energy and all those things, he did a tremendous job. Very pleased with the progress that he made Saturday and expect more progress this week."

Hoke stated, as he has since starting Morris against Minnesota, that he was impressed by Gardner's handling of the temporary demotion.

"I think the maturity that Devin's gone through in the course of three years, three and half years, I just think he keeps growing," Hoke said. "I think he keeps growing as a person and evolving as a quarterback, and so from that standpoint, I couldn't be more pleased than to see how he worked last week, how he supported Shane all during that week that he wasn't the starter."

Gardner might have gotten his starting spot back even if Morris had not gotten hurt against Minnesota. Morris completed just 7 of 19 attempts and threw an interception.

In Saturday's game against Rutgers, Gardner completed 13 of 22 pass attempts for 178 yards, threw one interception and rushed 10 times for 40 yards and two touchdowns.

 

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