Michigan coach Brady Hoke has said that junior quarterback Devin Gardner will return for his senior season.
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"He'll be back," Hoke told mlive.com Monday.
There is one caveat: Hoke said he had not spoken to Gardner about his future.
In his first full season as the starter, Gardner threw for 2,960 yards and 21 TDs. But he also tossed 11 interceptions and completed barely 60 percent of his passes.
Eight of his TD passes came in two games -- a win over Notre Dame and a one-point loss Saturday to Ohio State.
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Gardner threw 10 interceptions in the first six games of the season. He threw only one in the second half of the season, after the offense was simplified. But the simplification also led to some offensive struggles. Outside of games against Indiana and Ohio State, Michigan averaged just 267.2 yards per game in Big Ten play.
Hoke said Monday that he anticipated that each of his assistants would return. Coordinator Al Borges was criticized often this season for the Wolverines' offensive malaise.
Gardner was recruited by Rich Rodriguez, Hoke's predecessor, to play in a spread offense. Michigan switched to a pro-style attack this season after keeping some spread elements in the offense in Hoke's first two years on the job.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
