Optimism continues to build as Michigan looks to flip elite LSU QB commit Bryce Underwood
The buzz has been loudly building behind the scenes that Michigan continues to chase elite in-state 2025 quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood. The top overall player and 5-star is committed to LSU, but given that he's from Bellville, Michigan, and the Wolverines' NIL game has improved significantly regarding structure, the battle is not over. Josh Henshke […]
The buzz has been loudly building behind the scenes that Michigan continues to chase elite in-state 2025 quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood. The top overall player and 5-star is committed to LSU, but given that he's from Bellville, Michigan, and the Wolverines' NIL game has improved significantly regarding structure, the battle is not over.
Josh Henshke of the Maize & Blue Review shared tidbits of what he's found through reporting, and I checked with my program sources at a few places where Underwood has considered verifying and adding to it.
There's no question that although Underwood's reaction to a rumor of being offered $4 million in NIL money to go to Michigan, the effort from Michigan continues.
There's no firm answer beyond the fact that Michigan now has the ammunition to win an NIL battle and that Underwood is open to the conversation, as Henschke pointed out and qualified throughout his piece.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore will likely make staff changes this offseason, but LSU's own pending staff changes may affect Underwood's feelings about the Tigers as much as anything.
For example, LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan is expected to land a head coaching job somewhere (Henschke mentions East Carolina), and he could take another assistant with him. It's unlikely that an offensive change under Moore hurts his standing, considering how poorly the passing game worked in 2024. It'd be easier to sell Underwood on the change being about morphing the passing game to be more about his skill set.
Moore, per sources, knows what is at stake this offseason, including what happens if he misses on Underwood and offensive staff changes. Given what happened to the program after winning a national championship, Michigan has patience for this lost season. But to lose out on a rare 5-star top recruit who is in state and has the NIL support needed to close the deal is a big strike.
Especially considering that Ohio State has the other elite quarterback, Tavien St. Clair, as a hard commit, Moore is further put under the microscope. It's impossible to know what a young person will do and their preferences and influences.
However, rival scouts and front office personnel believe Underwood is gettable, and Michigan has a meaningful home-field advantage.
As of now, Michigan only has 3-star Carter Smith coming in the 2025 class. They offered 10 quarterbacks, including Findlay, Ohio, product Ryan Montgomery, who is committed to Georgia. With the transfer market for next offseason looking bleak right now, Underwood is likely the team's best shot to get an impact starter.
We'll continue to monitor and report on the latest buzz.
