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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/TornCinnabonman on 2024-05-10 23:08:47+00:00.
As a Michigan fan, my answer would be Devin Gardner. He was a 5* quarterback who committed to play under Rich Rodriguez. When Rodriguez got fired, Hoke came in and moved him to WR despite not having a backup QB. After a debacle with Russ Bellamy in 2012, Gardner was moved back to QB in the middle of the season and had an elite QBR in his half of a season as a starter despite not practicing at QB. Then he started the 2013 season looking elite before getting absolutely murdered behind a Hoke OL and an Al Borges passing scheme that had no quick passes in it. I’ll never forget MSU repeatedly running the double a-gap blitz and getting home every single time.
After Gardner developed PTSD from getting hit by every possible blitzing linebacker, Hoke brought in Doug Nussmeier to run his offense. Nuss’s offense was utterly pathetic and rarely threw it past the first down marker. It also did not make use of Gardner’s legs. Gardner was once again murdered behind an awful OL on a crappy team. After graduation, he spent a couple years playing in some weird pro league in Japan. I’ve always wondered what would have happened if he had another year in 2015 under Harbaugh. He showed flashes of brilliance when the OL was able to block (e.g. when he shredded OSU in 2013).