Bryce Underwood Named Michigan's Starting QB
It's official, college football fans: Bryce Underwood's time has arrived.
The highly-anticipated moment is finally here. Bryce Underwood, the consensus number one recruit in the Class of 2025, has been named the starting quarterback for the number 14 ranked Michigan Wolverines. The freshman phenom will take the field for his first start in the season opener against New Mexico on Saturday night.
This news, while not a surprise to anyone who has been following the Wolverines' quarterback competition, is a monumental event for one of the most celebrated recruits in the program's history. Coach Sherrone Moore made it clear that the job was earned, not given.
"He's earned the opportunity. It was not given to him," Moore said. "He’s going to make mistakes. That’s what we’re here for."
The hype around Underwood has been building since he flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan last November. The Wolverines went all-out to land the local product from Belleville, Michigan, even getting help from NFL legend Tom Brady to seal the deal. Now, just days after his 18th birthday, Underwood is the face of the program.
Underwood is set to become the first freshman to start a season opener for Michigan since Tate Forcier in 2009. The young QB is confident and ready for the moment.
"They’ve seen a lot of freshmen, but I feel like nobody’s seen a freshman like me," Underwood told Big Ten Network.
The quarterback battle didn't play out as expected, largely due to an injury to transfer Mikey Keene. However, with Keene's injury, it left the door wide open for Underwood to prove his worth and secure the starting job. With this decision, Michigan is officially beginning a new era led by one of the most promising young talents in the country.