The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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2025 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ 24 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MARCH 2025 BY EJ HOLLAND The Wolverines scored their biggest recruiting win of the decade when five- star Belleville (Mich.) High quarterback Bryce Underwood flipped his commit- ment from LSU to Michigan in Novem- ber. Underwood made it official the fol- lowing month, marking a historic sign- ing for the Wolverines. Donovan Dooley, who serves as Underwood's private quarterback trainer, believes U-M is get- ting a one-of-a-kind player. "It's always exciting for a hometown kid to stay home," Dooley said. "I don't want to say he's a symbol of hope, but just understand it can be done. "Quarterbacks from the Midwest sometimes get the undertone that they can't produce at a high level. I call Bryce a unicorn. He's one-of-one. He's definitely an impact player. He's going to learn on the job, but ultimately, he's going to de- velop into a truly elite quarterback." Underwood drew comparisons to for- mer Texas star Vince Young as an un- derclassman. However, Underwood has developed into one of the best pure pass- ers in recent memory. With his blend of high-end arm talent and imposing phys- ical stature, Underwood has been likened to Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Al- len by On3's scouting department. Dooley sees Underwood as a mix of some of the game's legends. He has that kind of potential. "When you talk about Vince Young, we're talking about body style and be- ing a winner in college," Dooley said. "But he's a polar opposite as a passer. When you are trying to compare him, I can come up with several — whether it's Patrick Mahomes, John Elway or Randall Cunningham. The names are all Hall of Famers. I think Bryce has a long way to go to get there, but he will be in those conversations if he continues to work." Underwood checks a lot of boxes — an elite arm, deep ball accuracy, the ability to make plays with his legs and so much more. But he also brings the intangibles re- quired at the position. Underwood led Belleville to a state championship as 14-year-old freshman and followed that up with another state championship as a sophomore and a trip to the title game as a junior. He is a winner and isn't afraid to lead — even when he's younger than his teammates. When Underwood wasn't with his team, he spent plenty of afternoons work- ing with Dooley. Underwood is dedicated to his craft, and it shows on the field. "Bryce is a worker," Dooley said. "He's a continuous learner and is going to ask good questions. It sounds cliché, but he's the first on the field and last to leave. He immerses himself in the quarterback po- sition. He never gets complacent. "You should expect him to be a leader amongst men. He'll lead the huddle and go compete. I don't see why he wouldn't rise to the top and win some games for Michigan." Recruits of Underwood's stature can sometimes get complacent. Others peak and don't have much room for growth. Underwood, however, is a year younger than most of his peers and could have technically been a part of the 2026 re- cruiting class. The ceiling is still there, and so is the hunger to get better. 17-Year-Old Phenom Bryce Underwood 'Plays Above His Years' Underwood, the nation's top overall prospect and quarterback, received a five-star plus+ rating from the On3 Industry Ranking. PHOTO COURTESY ON3