Michigan hopes it has found a long-term solution to the quarterback woes that plagued the Wolverines in 2024.
The school received a verbal commitment from five-star QB Bryce Underwood on Thursday. The Michigan native is the No. 2 player in the country according to Rivals and was previously committed to LSU.
If Underwood signs with Michigan in the December early signing period or the regular signing period in 2025, he will be the school’s highest-ranked recruit since Rashan Gary committed to the Wolverines in 2016.
Underwood would also be the first five-star player from Rivals to sign with the Wolverines since DB Will Johnson in 2022. Johnson has become one of the best defensive backs in college football and is a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Underwood’s verbal commitment comes on the same day Colorado received a verbal commitment from five-star QB Julian Lewis. He is the No. 6 player in the country and recently decommitted from USC.
Underwood plays for Belleville High School, the same school that currently employs disgraced ex-Michigan staffer Connor Stalions. Yes, really. Stalions has served as an assistant for the school after his alleged scouting scheme was the storyline of the 2023 college football season.
It is the second high school job for Stalions this season. He started the season with Detroit Mumford.
Beyond the Stalions connection and the role the former staffer may or may not have played in Underwood’s recruitment, it’s hard to overstate the significance of Underwood’s turn for Michigan. The Wolverines have been missing high-profile QBs in the state in recent years and are in drastic need of a solid quarterback to overhaul the offense under first-year head coach Sherrone Moore.
The coach was understandably excited about the news on social media.
Michigan is just 5-5 with two games left in the regular season, thanks in large part to porous QB play. Three different players have started at QB for Michigan this season and they have combined to complete less than 60% of their passes and throw nine TDs and nine interceptions. Overall, Michigan QBs average just six yards per passing attempt.
If Underwood signs in December, he will have the opportunity to enroll early at Michigan and participate in spring training.
The only player ahead of Underwood on Rivals’ rankings is QB Tavien St. Clair. Since June 2023, he has been verbally committed to Michigan’s archrival Ohio State. The Buckeyes added two top quarterbacks in the class of 2024 in Air Noland and Julian Sayin.
Following Underwood’s commitment, Michigan’s 19-person class is now tentatively ranked No. 11 in Rivals’ rankings.
