Bryce Underwood Emerging As “The Guy”? | Michigan Football Spring Practice News
Could Michigan already be eyeing its next star under center? As spring practice continues in Ann Arbor, all eyes are turning toward five-star quarterback commit Bryce Underwood — and there’s growing buzz that he might just be *the guy* for the Wolverines moving forward.
While Underwood, the No. 1 ranked quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, won’t officially suit up for Michigan until next season, his presence is already being felt around the program. Coaches, insiders, and even veteran players are quietly acknowledging that the young signal-caller is showing rare traits — the kind that suggest he could become the face of the program in the near future.
Though he isn’t yet participating in spring reps — he’s still finishing his senior year of high school — Underwood’s influence is hard to ignore. According to team sources, he’s already been heavily involved in Michigan’s offseason meetings, reviewing playbooks remotely and spending time in Ann Arbor during breaks to connect with staff and future teammates. The impression he’s left? Remarkably strong.
“He’s not even on campus full-time, but you’d think he was already part of the quarterback room,” one staffer said. “He’s got that presence. That leadership. You can’t teach that.”
Michigan is coming off a national championship run, and with J.J. McCarthy now off to the NFL, the quarterback position has naturally become the focal point of discussion this spring. While several capable options are battling for the starting job this season — including Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, and Jayden Denegal — it’s clear the future might rest with Underwood, and everyone in the building knows it.
Recruiting analysts have long praised Underwood’s maturity, arm strength, and poise in the pocket. But what’s setting him apart lately is how he’s already taking ownership of his role as a future leader. He’s been instrumental in rallying other top recruits to Michigan, and several current spring enrollees have pointed to Underwood as one of the reasons they chose the Wolverines.
“He’s already building something before even throwing a pass for us,” said one early enrollee. “That says a lot.”
For head coach Sherrone Moore and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell, the excitement is tempered by the knowledge that success in the Big Ten — especially after the recent additions of USC, Oregon, and Washington — demands patience and precision at quarterback. Still, the program is clearly preparing the runway for Underwood to take off the moment he arrives.
