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Michigan Football: Can Devin Gardner make it in the CFL?

By Chris Peterson

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 11: Devin Gardner #98 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a first quarter pass while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 11, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 11: Devin Gardner #98 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a first quarter pass while playing the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 11, 2014 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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After an up and down career with Michigan football, Devin Gardner is now getting a shot in the Canadian Football League. But can he make it?

Normally, I wouldn’t care too much about the CFL. Michigan football fans don’t generally have much reason to care about the league up north. Not often at any rate.

However, with some news released the other day, Michigan football fans will at least have some reason to care as a former Wolverine is taking his talents north of the border.

The reason is former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner has signed to play in the league with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This is via the Wolverines Wire and 3down nation which was first out with the news.

Of course, Gardner is being signed only as a backup following an injury to another quarterback but it’s at least a start for a guy who was playing in Japan last season.

Michigan Wolverines Football
Michigan Wolverines Football /

Michigan Wolverines Football

After two mediocre seasons as the Michigan starting quarterback, Gardner’s pro career has been pretty much a non starter. He even tried out for the same CFL team a couple years ago and didn’t make the final cut.

But hey, that doesn’t mean his career is over. For instance, Kurt Warner was playing in the Arena Football League and working at a local grocery store before he got his shot. So you never really know.

While Gardner will probably never be good enough to even play in the NFL, he could possibly forge a decent career in the CFL, where mobile quarterbacks have a history of doing well. It is a pass-centered league though still, particularly with just three downs instead of four in America.

But, when looking back at Gardner’s time with Michigan football, he did complete 60.4 percent of his passes and that was in 787 attempts. Gardner thew for 6,446 yards and 44 touchdowns, however, he also threw 32 interceptions.

At one time, during his junior season, some believed Gardner had NFL ability. Then it all came crashing down. The interceptions were the big issue. His ability to run and be mobile could help him at the next level, but accuracy and taking care of the football will need to be strong suits.

Next: 3 reasons Michigan Football wins 10 games in 2018

Anyways, if you’re like me and find yourself watching the CFL out of desperation, turn on the Roughriders, maybe Gardner will eventually find the field. I hope so, because it would at least give me a good reason to watch football in the summer.

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