Michigan Football: How Russell Bellomy's Torn ACL Will Affect QB Situation

Hearing that another Michigan player tore an ACL sounded like a stale April Fool's joke.

But to head coach Brady Hoke, the injury to backup quarterback Russell Bellomy is no laughing matter.

"It's unfortunate, especially for a kid who battled through a tough injury last season and was having a really good spring," Hoke told mgoblue.com. "We'll continue to support Russell and look forward to having him back on the field."

With the spring game just over two weeks away (April 13), Michigan will have only one quarterback at its disposal who has thrown a collegiate pass.

While Devin Gardner is the odds-on favorite to win the starting job, Hoke was hoping that Bellomy's dismal showing against Nebraska last fall was a thing of the past.

With Bellomy out indefinitely, Wolverine fans will now see Gardner and walk-on redshirt freshman Brian Cleary compete in the spring game.

The two quarterbacks will then join 5-star recruit Shane Morris when summer workouts begin in June (via scout.com).

Even before Bellomy's injury, Morris was expected to win the backup job. But since Gardner will be Michigan's starter in 2013 and 2014, it was anticipated that Bellomy would be the backup this fall, with Morris taking a redshirt.

Now, do you throw a walk-on into the fire if Gardner tweaks an ankle? Or do you burn Morris' redshirt?

At 6'3”, 199 pounds, Cleary appears to have a shot at earning some playing time. A standout at Detroit Jesuit, Cleary earned All-Catholic honors in the same league where Morris played.

Bellomy's injury was the second ACL tear during spring practice. Starting Sam linebacker Jake Ryan suffered a similar injury March 19 and will likely miss the 2013 season as well.