Michigan five-star QB Bryce Underwood said that people tell him his game replicates that of J.J. McCarthy. @WoodsFootball has the story.
The expectations are high for Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, a 2025 five-star recruit and the No. 1 overall prospect in the ‘25 class. Along with Underwood being highly touted and the pressures that go along with it, there’s a former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy who recently set the bar for success. However, Underwood is well aware of McCarthy’s career arc and has been for some time.
Underwood, a native of Belleville, Michigan, followed McCarthy’s ascent at Michigan from the beginning. Underwood watched McCarthy go from appearing in games as a true freshman in 2021 to being named the starting quarterback in September of 2022 then culminating in a National Championship in January of 2024.
“Definitely was rooting for him to be in the game as a freshman and a sophomore,” Underwood said. “Coming his junior year and seeing him start the whole way and a little bit of his sophomore year, was a good thing to see.”
McCarthy, who was selected No. 10 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft, was 27-1 as a starter for Michigan. McCarthy never lost to Ohio State and played a big role in Michigan winning the Rose Bowl against Alabama and the CFP National Championship against Washington.
Underwood is leaning into the standard that McCarthy set and has been hearing from others how he’s similar to McCarthy in ways on and off the field.
“Honestly, I get a lot of people that say my game replicates his as well,” Underwood said on Wednesday. “How much of a game changer and how much of a leader I am. How much of a passer I can be, how much I can do it on my feet.”
Now Underwood will be the one hoping to play as a true freshman and earn QB1 duties as soon as possible. Just like McCarthy had to battle Cade McNamara, Underwood will have some veteran competition in Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene.
McCarthy has already been in Underwood’s ear about what to expect at Michigan as a freshman and gave him advice, telling him to “chase the suck” and chase what he absolutely doesn’t want to do. McCarthy told Underwood to do everything “100 percent, 100 percent of the time”.
“Understanding that Michigan, where you are, inevitably, the people you surround yourself with,” McCarthy explained in November. “The cold, the strict academics, the strict football schedule. All of that is going to make you better. But how are you going to take advantage of it in the time that you’re there?”
The time is nearing for Underwood to make the most of his time at Michigan, as spring practices get underway in less than a month. And how Underwood fares this offseason will greatly impact whether he, just like McCarthy, sees the field a steady amount during his true freshman season. What we already know is Underwood and McCarthy understand they’re going to be linked together in this epoch of Michigan Football — and they’re rolling with it.