BELLEVILLE, Mich. — Three weeks in, practice doesn’t seem to be the issue for freshman Bryce Underwood. It’s the school part that has his head spinning most. The five-star quarterback has been the talk of Michigan’s spring practices so far, both for his athleticism and ball placement, all while Underwood balances an academic load of […]
BELLEVILLE, Mich. — Three weeks in, practice doesn’t seem to be the issue for freshman Bryce Underwood.
It’s the school part that has his head spinning most.
The five-star quarterback has been the talk of Michigan’s spring practices so far, both for his athleticism and ball placement, all while Underwood balances an academic load of four classes per week.
And there’s an unfortunate kicker.
“Three of them are on Tuesday and Thursday,” Underwood said Sunday. “We practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so my days go from 8 (in the morning) to 8 (at night).
“Just running.”
Underwood, who spoke to The Ann Arbor News/ MLive following a name, image and likeness event at Belleville High School, candidly admitted that it’s been “a lot” but he’s “ready to take on that challenge no matter what.”
“Football is football,” he said. “School is a little bit more overwhelming now.”
More: Michigan OC: ‘If (Underwood)’s ready to go, he’ll play’
Complaints have long come from Michigan student-athletes in their freshman year about the difficulty of managing classes and the school’s summer bridge program, aimed to try and help acclimate them to the rigorous academic standards and expectations.
And while wall-to-wall Tuesdays and Thursdays might mean a lighter load the rest of the week for Underwood, there’s still another class to attend, the need to maintain his grades and work to do inside the walls of Schembechler Hall.
“I’ve been enjoying it,” Underwood said. “Honestly, it’s been going great. I’ve been enjoying the process of it, having school go along with it as well.”
Underwood confirmed that he’s been sharing a bulk of the reps in practice with sophomore Jadyn Davis, who redshirted last season after only appearing in one game. Transfer Mikey Keene is apparently dealing with an undisclosed injury, leaving the No. 1-ranked player in this year’s high-school recruiting class with little competition at the moment.
And while that might seem like a lot for a freshman, Underwood’s teammates have acknowledged a sudden step up in play at the quarterback position compared to last year.
“It’s been going great,” Underwood said of sharing reps with Davis, who saw the field in 2024 despite Michigan struggling to find reliable QB play. “Just building a bond with Jadyn, making each other better and everything.”
As for the speed of the game, the jump from high school to college can be a lot for some players. Underwood, who accounted for nearly 13,000 all-purpose yards at Belleville, where he was a four-year starter and two-time state champion, says he got the hang of everything in December during bowl practices. That hasn’t been an issue.
Meanwhile, his coaches continue to leave the door open for him to claim the starting job this fall. First-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who doubles as the team’s quarterbacks coach, has said that Underwood will start “if he’s ready.” Head coach Sherrone Moore has not ruled it out, praising his young quarterback’s work ethic and thirst to get better.
The school is clearly invested, too, handing him a multi-million dollar name, image and likeness package to flip his commitment from LSU to Michigan. It’s just a matter of it — not when — Underwood takes his first collegiate snap.
Asked Sunday about starting Michigan’s Aug. 30 season opener against New Mexico, Underwood, who said recently that he wants his Michigan legacy to be “a couple Heismans and at least one (national title),” had a simple, four-word response.
“That’s in due time,” Underwood said. “That’s in due time.”
Until then, don’t expect to see him much, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He’s busy.
