ANN ARBOR -- Devin Gardner has started five games at quarterback in his Michigan career.
And that was enough for the Davey O'Brien panel to include him among the country's 34 best quarterbacks.
The junior was named Wednesday to the watch list for the O'Brien award, which is presented annually to the best quarterback in the country. No Michigan player has won the award.
Gardner is one of just three Big Ten quarterbacks to make the list, joining Ohio State's Braxton Miller and Nebraska's Taylor Martinez.
Which of those isn't like the other? While Miller has started two seasons, and Martinez three, Gardner is entering his first as a full-time starter.
But he earned his place among those quarterbacks with a fabulous finish to the 2012 season, switching from receiver to under center when Denard Robinson was hurt and completing 75-of-126 passes for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He was named Big Ten offensive player of the week twice in four regular-season games at quarterback.
And that has Gardner earning all kinds of offseason hype, including a place on the Maxwell Award watch list for college football's top player. He's also earned some inclusion in early Heisman Trophy talks.
Gardner has said the pressure doesn't bother him, something he learned how to do by observing Denard Robinson handle the spotlight. He's just focused this summer on learning Michigan's new pro-style offense, as well as developing his personal skills.
He hired George Whitfield, a renowned quarterback guru, to help develop his evasion technique and pocket presence. Last weekend he attended the Manning Passing Academy, and earned praise as one of the top juniors there.
Davey O'Brien watch list David Ash, Texas, Big 12 Blake, Bortles, UCF, AAC Tajh Boyd, Clemson, ACC Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville, AAC Terrance Broadway, Louisiana-Lafayette, Sun Belt Kolton Browning, ULM, Sun Belt Derek Carr, Fresno State, MWC Rakeem Cato, Marshall, C-USA Cody Fajardo, Nevada, MWC David Fales, San Jose State, MWC James Franklin, Missouri, SEC Devin Gardner, Michigan, Big Ten Kevin Hogan, Stanford, Pac-12 Brett Hundley, UCLA, Pac-12 Chuckie Keeton, Utah State, MWC Taylor Kelly, Arizona State, Pac-12 Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois, MAC Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M, SEC Marcus Mariota, Oregon, Pac-12 Taylor Martinez, Nebraska, Big Ten AJ McCarron, Alabama, SEC Braxton Miller, Ohio State, Big Ten Stephen Morris, Miami (FL), ACC Aaron Murray, Georgia, SEC Casey Pachall, TCU, Big 12 Keith Price, Washington, Pac-12 Bryn Renner, North Carolina, ACC Keenan Reynolds, Navy, Independent Tyler Russell, Mississippi State, SEC Connor Shaw, South Carolina, SEC Tyler Tettleton, Ohio, MAC Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech, ACC Bo Wallace, Ole Miss, SEC Keith Wenning, Ball State, MAC
By conference: SEC (7), Pac-12 (5), ACC (4), Mountain West (4), Big Ten (3), Mid-American (3), American Athletic (2), Big 12 (2), Sun Belt (2), Independents (1), Conference USA (1).
Other Michigan players to make watch lists: -- Devin Gardner were named to the Maxwell Award watch list (player of the year). -- Devin Funchess was named to the John Mackey Award watch list (best tight end). -- Brendan Gibbons was named to the Lou Groza watch list (best placekicker) -- J ake Ryan and Lewan were named to the Rotary Lombardi watch list (best down linemen or linebacker) -- Jeremy Gallon was named to Biletnikoff Award watch list (best receiver)
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