Report: QB Devin Gardner practices exclusively at receiver during Michigan scrimmage

Coaches said Devin Gardner was splitting his reps between receiver and quarterback. For one practice, at least, that was not the case.

Gardner, the Michigan football team's backup quarterback, practiced exclusively at receiver during Saturday's workout, according to MGoBlog.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.comMichigan quarterback Devin Gardner practiced exclusively at receiver Saturday, according to a report.

Coach Brady Hoke and offensive coordinator Al Borges have said Gardner remains the backup quarterback to Denard Robinson, but MGoBog reports redshirt freshman Russell Bellomy was running with the second unit during the scrimmage at Michigan Stadium.

The scrimmage was open to player families and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital donors. MGoBlog wrote that a Mott donor gave his tickets to the site.

Michigan's preseason camp otherwise has been closed to local media, with the only prior practice reports coming from the league-run Big Ten Network.

Another revelation, according to the report: Little-used junior tackle Quinton Washington is working with the first-unit defensive line. That confirms an earlier report by BTN's Tom Dienhart, who dropped in on practice earlier in the week.

The first-unit defensive line in Saturday's practice, according to MGoBlog, was Jibreel Black at weak-side end, Will Campbell at tackle, Washington at tackle and Craig Roh at strong-side end.

Black played well last year at weak-side end, but had been moved inside this offseason to bolster depth at tackle after the graduation of starters Mike Martin and Will Heininger. So, his appearance at end is surprising.

Sophomore Brennen Beyer, who played strong-side linebacker last year, was thought to be the leading candidate to start at weak-side defensive end. Sophomore Frank Clark also was expected to receive time there, although he was suspended this summer after an arrest for allegedly stealing a laptop from a campus dorm.

Clark is practicing, but his availability against Alabama is unknown.

Check out the rest of MGoBlog's practice reports by clicking here and here.