Devin Gardner > Terrelle Pryor

[Via Freep]
ESPN Scouts Inc. recruiting director Tom Luginbill calls the Inkster, MI native and future Michigan QB an "advanced version" of tOSU's Terrelle Pryor.

He says that not only is he a better passer, but compares his ability to that of Tennessee Titans QB and former Texas Longhorn Vince Young. Hopefully it's the 21 year old VY, and not the 19 year old VY, as he struggled in his first 2 seasons as the Texas passer.

“Devin has been far more prepared in the passing game and playing in a scheme that has required him to do some things with his arm on a much more consistent basis than Terrelle Pryor ever was,” Luginbill said today in a conference call. “Terrelle Pryor played in a version of the Wing-T, did not throw the football very much and, quite honestly, was not very efficient throwing the football.

"Going into the next level, Devin Gardner has an advantage there because he has played in a system similar to one he’ll be playing in at Michigan. ... I do think it’s a good fit.

“If you’re a Michigan fan and say we lost out on Terrelle Pryor … they lost out on a great athlete, but there are no perfect players, and everyone had challenges and things they need to work on. In getting Devin Gardner, you’re actually getting a player with similar physical tools and dimensions but probably further along as a passer.”

Obviously this doesn't mean that Devin will immediately step in an make tOSU and other opponents his personal punching bag, probably far from it. But what it does illustrate, very clearly, is that Rich Rodriguez, Rod Smith (QB coach) and Calvin Magee (OC) are going out and getting the best talent that they can find and attracting them to Michigan. And doing so at maybe one of the hardest times ever to recruit for this program in the last 40 years.

“He’s obviously very gifted as a runner and a passer and probably a better passer than he’s given credit for because his mechanics are a bit unorthodox and people see him and make an assumption because it’s not always pretty, he maybe isn’t the passer some guys are,” Luginbill said. “The bottom line is, the guy’s been exceptionally productive, and he, in my opinion, does a lot of the same things ... to Vince Young. Similar dimensions and measureables, similar arm strength, and a very similar quirky-like delivery.”

The question remains, when will Devin see the field?

Last we heard he was not going to enroll early as previously reported, but instead will stay in HS and play basketball. This leads me to believe that either he really loves playing HS basketball, or he knows that enrolling early might not have a benefit for him as he doesn't think Rodriguez will start a freshman QB three years in a row.

In a perfect world, at least my perfect world, Tate and Denard work to improve their respective games and make huge strides this off-season and come back to play much better ball in 2010. And Devin red-shirts to work on getting up to speed to the college game instead of being tossed to the wolves like previous QBs the last two years.

Luginbill sees it another way...

“There’s no doubt he’s got the physical tools to do so,” Luginbill said. “From a height standpoint, he brings some things to the table as far as overall field vision that maybe Tate and Denard Robinson lack a little bit right now. Obviously, if you’re going to be a guy that hovers around the 6-foot mark (like Forcier and Robinson), you’re going to need to be in the shotgun an awful lot, and it probably helps the offense to move the launch point a little bit and try to enhance the field vision. That’s not an issue that you’ve got to try to cover up with (6-foot-4) Devin Gardner.

"Physically, I think he’s as gifted, if not more gifted, than either of those two guys. Those guys have now had a year under their belt playing at the BCS level, the FBS level, and Devin Gardner is going to have to get to that point. I’d be stunned if he’s not involved in the competition throughout the fall.”

To get your very own first, or second look at Devin Gardner and his abilites, tune into the Under Armour All-American High School Football Game this Saturday (Jan 2) from Lake Buena Vista, FL. ESPN will once again air the game live with skills challenges being aired somewhere on the ESPN family of networks.