A new report says that QB Bryce Underwood is trending to start Week 1. @WoodsFootball evaluates whether that will be the case.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood has yet to take a collegiate snap, but the early buzz sounds about as promising as it gets heading into a true freshman season.
Pete Nakos of On3 Sports has been told by a source that Underwood “is going to be the guy.”
Bryce Underwood is trending to be Michigan’s starting quarterback, @PeteNakos_ reports〽️
Intel: https://t.co/aELgSnHGRs pic.twitter.com/YnqKoiUbnS
— On3 (@On3sports) March 28, 2025
“Now on the practice field, Underwood has looked the part,” Nakos said. “Sources have raved about his athleticism and arm strength. Throughout his recruitment, it was clear that the quarterback was the complete package and that’s lived up to the hype. As of now, Underwood is trending to start Week 1 as a true freshman.”
Nakos went onto report that Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene has to to participate in spring practices and it’s not clear when he will return. Keene being sidelined has paven the way for Underwood to receive a lot of reps in spring practice, with Jadyn Davis the only other scholarship quarterback healthy at the moment while Davis Warren recovers from a torn ACL.
On Friday, Michigan players spoke about how Underwood has looked in practice. In short, they’re all very impressed, even comparing him to the talent level of former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who had a 27-1 starting record and won a National Championship.
“We haven’t had a quarterback like that in a while,” Michigan defensive back Zeke Berry said, per Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire . “I’ll probably say since J.J. And I feel like having him out there and seeing what he can do, he’s going to change this offense for us.”
Defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny spoke about some of the difficult throws Underwood has made with precision.
“He’s made some crazy throws. You look at him and it’s just like, wow. His frame is crazy, so that’s enough in itself, but he’s going to be good,” Benny said. “He threw one in the back of the end zone. It was a jump ball. It was just perfect placement, and the wide receiver went up to go get it. It was a good throw. Gave a lot of hope. Bright things.”
It won’t be all sunshine and rainbows for Underwood, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, hard work is ahead. Underwood is already showing he’s putting football first and his development at the forefront. Underwood seems to understand that hard work, not just skill alone, is what it will take to have success right out of the gate in his college career.
Earlier this week Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore spoke about how Underwood is attacking this offseason.
“He works his tail off,” Moore said. “He’s in here late, in here early.”
Moore also said that naming the starting quarterback will be based on a feeling.
“The guy that’s making the most plays, that has the command of the offense and command of the team,” Moore said.
Based on the comments of Michigan players at this juncture of the offseason, Underwood is making plenty of plays in practice. Developing trust in the locker room as a quarterback is such an important part of the team dynamic, and Underwood is well on his way to his teammates believing he can go out and greatly aid Michigan’s chances of winning.