The Michigan Wolverines have had one issue for the entire 2024 season: the quarterback. After having JJ McCarthy for the past two seasons, new head coach Sherrone Moore had to figure out who would be under center for the Wolverines. It has been a carousel at the position. The team has used a combination of Davis Warren and Alex Orji to limited success. Michigan’s offense would be abysmal if not for a strong running game. The program just got a huge boost for next year. After weeks of rumors, number one overall recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan.
Michigan Wolverines Land QB Bryce Underwood
The Michigan Wolverines did not focus on the quarterback position in the last few recruiting cycles, partly due to the presence of McCarthy. It left the team with a major hole. Moore was determined to fix this issue and make sure the offense has an elite quarterback next year. Bryce Underwood is actually from the state of Michigan and hails from the city of Belleville. He had been committed to the LSU Tigers, but rumors started to circulate that the Wolverines were making a run. Reports indicated the Wolverines are offering a massive $10 million NIL package, though his decision goes beyond just money.
What Makes Underwood So Special?
Bryce Underwood has been on the scouts’ radar since seventh grade. As a freshman, he led his high school team to a state title. All of the measurables are there. He has the size standing at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds. His arm and athleticism are off the charts, and one look at the tape shows how good he is. What has impressed many people is his poise under pressure.
Underwood has had to come through in the clutch, and he doesn’t seem phased. He’s been in the spotlight for a while, and the moment doesn’t seem too big for him. This is exactly what the Michigan Wolverines want out of a quarterback. The Big Ten will have plenty of games in the spotlight, and hostile environments and big stages won’t phase Underwood.
Michigan Wolverines Outlook
It cannot be overstated how huge this is for the Michigan Wolverines and Sherrone Moore. Bryce Underwood’s commitment marks just the second time the program has landed a number one overall recruit in a class. The other was defensive end Rashan Gary. He completely changes the outlook of the offense. 247Sports recruiting analyst Tom Loy had this to say about what Underwood means to the program.
“This is your Day 1 starter next season in Ann Arbor. Zero doubt in my mind. I don’t believe this was a case where he picked the highest bidder and I don’t think this was a case of him needing any guarantees or reassurances. He was getting the money, no matter where he went, and he was likely gonna be the starter, no matter where he went. I think Bryce Underwood picked the place he wants to be at athletically, academically, and socially, and where he sees himself thriving and where he sees himself being the happiest.”
A day one starter. Given the lack of competition on the roster currently, the Michigan Wolverines could be starting a true freshman quarterback in 2025. The offense clearly needs a boost. Michigan is 5-5 on the year, but a few of the losses have been close. If the Wolverines could move the ball more effectively, they might be more in the mix for the Big Ten. Moore is making sure this year was an anomaly, and Michigan gets back to its winning ways next season.
Top 10 Class
According to On3, the Michigan Wolverines now have the 8th-ranked class in 2025. It puts them third in the Big Ten conference for 2025, with Ohio State (2nd) and Oregon (7th) having better classes currently. They have two recruits in the top 20, Underwood and offensive tackle Andrew Babalola. Outside of those two, Moore and his staff have gotten 11 four-star and 6 three-star recruits to commit to the program. There may be more on the way.
Michigan is a more attractive program now that Underwood has committed. Skill position players take notice of where the best quarterbacks are going. They want to look good on the field; part of that is having an elite quarterback. It will be interesting to see if this causes more recruits to flip to the program in the coming months.
Final Thoughts
Kudos to Sherrone Moore and his staff. There was one job this offseason: get the quarterback position figured out. They knocked it out of the park. Getting the number one overall recruit from a class is an accomplishment, let alone flipping him from an elite SEC program. It probably didn’t hurt that LSU got embarrassed by Florida last Saturday. However, Moore and his staff have shown great aptitude for getting recruits excited about coming to the program. Keep an eye out for more players coming to the program. Recruiting is often about momentum, and the Michigan Wolverines have all of it right now.
