Born September 22, 1990, Denard is an American football player playing his junior year at the University of Michigan as the starting quarterback. In 2010 Denard started as the quarterback for all 13 games and made it to the 2011 Gator Bowl. He was awarded the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the MVP in the Big Ten. The Football Writers Association of America selected him as a First-Team All-American Quarterback. Denard ran for 1,702 yards and threw for 2,570 yards in 2010 setting a Big Ten record; being the only player in NCAA history to pass and run for 1,500 yards. Denard got the nickname “Shoelace” because he has played football since he was ten with his shoelaces untied.