Devin Gardner, Receiver

2012 spring game file photo

Its been rumored since before the spring game from eyewitnesses at spring practices, although we didn't get to see it on the field. But now it's confirmed by Brady Hoke at the Big Ten media days in Chicago. Junior QB Devin Gardner (now #12) will split time between being the backup to Denard Robinson and wide receiver this fall.

[AnnArbor.com]

"We have a chance to get Devin on the field as a wide receiver some, because of his athleticism," Hoke said. "He's a big guy. So, I think we've got all kinds of different things that we look towards with Devin.

"I think Devin has grown as a quarterback, grown as a kid. I think that's a big part of it."

I'll add that I've also read that left tackle Taylor Lewan says Gardner has been looking "phenomenal" at WR. Denard says Devin has a knack for making big plays and he loves a big target. Obviously.

This speaks as much to Devin's athleticism as it does our great need for a tall receivers (and Russell Bellomy's ability at QB). With the exit of the graduating Junior Hemingway and the booted Darryl Stonum, whatever depth we had at the WR position was and still is nil. Roy Roundtree can't do it all.

This is both exciting and terrifying all at once. Should Denard go down, we'd lose our starting QB and maybe our best WR at the same time.