Highly-touted Michigan freshman quarterback Shane Morris will make his first career start in Saturday’s Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against Kansas State, coach Brady Hoke announced Thursday.
Devin Gardner, the Wolverines’ starter, reportedly broke bones in his foot in the third quarter of the Ohio State game on Nov. 30.
Hoke says Shane Morris 'will start the football game.'
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) December 26, 2013
Hoke says Gardner will not play in the game at all, says doctors worried about broken bones possibly in his foot. — Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) December 26, 2013
Devin Gardner broke his left foot on the 2nd drive of 3rd Q of #OhioState game, per source. Tried to battle thru it for #Michigan that day.
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) December 26, 2013
Devin Gardner led #Michigan to three TD drives on final 4 series against #Buckeyes AFTER he broke his left foot that day. — Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) December 26, 2013
Morris, a four-star recruit out of Warren, Mich., played in just three games for the Wolverines this season. His most significant action came in mop-up duty in the season opener against Central Michigan where Morris completed 4-of-6 passes for 59 yards and one interception.
On top of Gardner's absence, Michigan will also be without starting kicker Brendan Gibbons. Gibbons did not make the trip to Arizona due to family reasons.
- - -
Want to join the conversation? Hit us up on Twitter @YahooDrSaturday be sure to "Like" Dr. Saturday on Facebook for football conversations and stuff you won't see on the blog.