Bryce Underwood’s spring game was far from perfect but his potential is undeniable. Still just 17, Underwood is a star in the making who needs more time on task.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood has been the most talked about recruit in the 2025 class and there are many reasons why. Underwood was the No. 1 overall quarterback, the No. 1 overall recruit in the ‘25 class and a player who flipped from LSU to Michigan in the final stages of his recruitment.
After being ranked No. 130 in passing offense last season, the emergence of Underwood represents hope to get Michigan’s offense back on track and to a caliber than can compete in the College Football Playoff. Michigan fans got their first glimpse of their new hope on Saturday when Underwood played in Michigan’s Spring Game.
Underwood played the entire spring game, and while his performance was far from perfect, he showcased his arm talent and his athleticism as a runner. Underwood was 12-of-26 for 187 yards with one passing touchdown and one interception. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore thought that Underwood “did well”.
“Made some really good throws and had some things that we got to clean up and get better at,” Moore said. “He’s a continued work in progress, and he’s working his tail off to do it.”
Underwood should be a work in progress, as he’s still just 17! Underwood may already look like a full grown man at 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, but he’s still getting acclimated to the life of being a college student and athlete, still learning Michigan’s offense.
While Underwood is surely the quarterback of the future for Michigan, the team isn’t rushing his progress or putting unnecessary pressure on him right out of the gate. Moore says that the quarterback competition won’t be decided until fall camp, with the decision likely coming a week before the regular season begins. Underwood will be competing with redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis, true freshman Chase Herbstreit, and Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, who has passed for over 8,000 yards in his career.
During Michigan’s spring game Underwood showed a willingness to throw the ball deep during a windy day at Michigan Stadium. What doesn’t show up in Underwood’s 12-of-26 total are the near misses and the times wideouts dropped balls that hit their hands. Underwood’s passes had zip, and there was even one incompletion that I’d classify as an impressive overthrow, traveling over 60 yards out of bounds into the back of the end zone. Underwood had good stature in the pocket, he seemed to sense pressure well and know when it was time to escape the pocket, and his running abilities are going to make him dangerous as well. Yes, Underwood is still raw, but even diamonds take time to come into form. Underwood is a diamond, a gem, a star that won’t be burning out any time soon — he’s just getting warmed up.
It’s worth noting Underwood’s Blue team beat the Maize team 17-0 in the spring game, and it’s also worth noting the game ended with Underwood’s biggest passing play of the game via an end-around flea flicker trick play that went for an 88-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Hoffman. The fans at Michigan Stadium (roughly 45,000 in attendance) erupted, as did players who all rushed on the field to celebrate a memorable end to a glorified scrimmage.
The external expectations for Underwood are sky-high, but so are his personal expectations. Underwood told Rich Eisen in March that he ‘definitely’ wants to start Week 1 and wants to win multiple Heisman trophies at Michigan and a National Championship. While Underwood is not yet worthy of Heisman consideration or ready for playoff football, he could be ready sooner than many freshmen are.
The best experience is time on task, and the more Underwood plays, the sooner he sees the field when games count, the faster he’ll turn from being a work in progress to a genuine star. For now, though, Underwood’s just trying to work hard for the right to be named Michigan’s starting quarterback.