The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PLAYER BIOS ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 "There are always things to work on as a quarterback," Dooley said. "It's a posi- tion where you are chasing perfection. To name one thing, I would say trying to find green grass to deliver the football when there is little or no space. Some- times, he creates space when he doesn't need to. He still makes the throw, but he has to understand that at the next level, you are playing against men, and win- dows are going to close fast. Bryce does well with anticipation, but just some- times needs to be a situational creature." Michigan has a desperate need at the quarterback position. The Wolverines had one of the least productive quar- terback rooms in all of college football at the Power Four level this past season. It's no surprise Michigan went against its nature and put together a mega-NIL deal for Underwood with an estimated value of $10-12 million. While the Wolverines did acquire a signal-caller through the transfer portal in Fresno State's Mikey Keene, Under- wood, the No. 1 overall recruit nation- ally, will have a chance to compete for the starting job as a true freshman. And Dooley believes he can excel as a first-year starter — just like he did when he won a ring as a high school freshman. "Bryce plays above his years," Dooley said. "He'll be able to manage the game early on. As he gets more comfortable within the system and feeling things out like in a boxing match, you'll see him continue to get better and better. He'll come into his own and really be able to make some wild plays." Michigan parted ways with offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell earlier this offseason and brought in Chip Lindsey as his replacement. Lindsey is expected to bring a more balanced attack to Ann Arbor, and with Underwood on the ros- ter, there is no doubt the Wolverines will throw the ball more. The proof is in the pudding with Lindsey. He helped Drake Maye pass for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns at North Carolina in 2023 en route to be- coming a first-round NFL Draft pick. While it's unclear exactly what Lind- sey's offense will look like at Michigan, Dooley expects Underwood to thrive. "Michigan has been run-first before marrying up the run and pass game," Dooley said. "When they do that, they are tough to beat. Bryce can run any- thing from spread to pro-style. He'll do whatever you want him to do … and he'll win." ❑ STATISTICS Year Pass Yds. Comp. % TD INT Rush Yds. TD 2024 2,509 71.8% 32 6 600+ 6 2023 3,329 64.9% 44 3 199 7 2022 2,762 — 37 — 632 8 2021 2,888 — 39 4 — 6 HONORS • As a senior, ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit na onally and earned a five-star plus+ (unani- mous) ra ng in the On3 Industry Ranking. • Gatorade Na onal Player of the Year in 2023. • Gatorade Player of the Year in Michigan in 2024. • MaxPreps Na onal Player of the Year as a sophomore. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to U-M on Nov. 21 a er first receiving an offer in middle school. • Flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan. • Reportedly signed an NIL deal worth $10-12 million. DID YOU KNOW? • Credited with 12,919 all-purpose yards including 11,488 passing yards and 179 total touchdowns (152 passing) during his career. • Compiled a career record of 50-4 with two Michi- gan Division I state championships (2021 and '22), and three appearances in the tle game. • Highest ranked U-M signee since defensive end Rashan Gary (No. 1 in 2016). • Enrolled at U-M in January. • Son of Jay and Beverly Underwood. • Born Aug. 19, 2007. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "Underwood has explosive arm talent that immediately stood out as a high school underclass- man. ... He employs considerable torque to uncoil his long arms, resul ng in a whippy mo on that produces very high RPM's on the football. Quite simply, the ball jumps out of his hand. Underwood is able to touch all areas of the field with his arm strength. He can push the ball ver cally 60+ yards downfield and makes far hash throws look rou ne." BRYCE UNDERWOOD QUARTERBACK 6-4 • 208 BELLEVILLE HIGH BELLEVILLE, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ + 1 1 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 1 1 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 1 1 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 1 1 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 3 2 1 INDUSTRY 2025 Projection Michigan brought in a transfer quarterback Mikey Keene because of his experience and understanding of Chip Lindsey's offense. However, Underwood may be too good to keep off the field. Like former Michigan quar- terback J.J. McCarthy, Underwood could see significant me in certain packages as a true freshman and may even win the star ng job later in the season. He will arrive with high expecta ons, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him meet them in his first year. Underwood compiled a career record of 50-4 as a four-year starter at Belleville (Mich.) High, leading the Tigers to two Michigan Division I state championships (2021 and '22). He enrolled at U-M in January. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL