Michigan benching QB Bryce Underwood is the latest cautionary tale that could lead top programs to shift recruiting strategies
The era of NIL has changed things when it comes to recruiting, and look no further than the top-ranked quarterback.
Tuesday brought the news we were all expected to happen after Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham benched quarterback Bryce Underwood against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Against the Indiana Hoosiers this weekend, the Wolverines will start freshman Tommy Carr at quarterback. He is the brother of Notre Dame Fighting Irish C.J. Carr.
It was a brutal game for Underwood, who completed just 5-of-11 for 43 yards and two interceptions. That came after two consecutive losses, including against Minnesota, where he threw for 101 yards and two interceptions. It’s just the latest in a string of poor performances from Underwood.
Bryce Underwood is the latest top recruit to struggle
Underwood’s struggles have been a constant throughout his career, and it’s led to his benching. It’s really unfortunate for a multitude of reasons, especially with how the program has been since Jim Harbaugh went back to the NFL. It’s also a difficult thing to process for Michigan, as the NIL deal he signed is reportedly worth $10.5 million.
If you are on a massive NIL deal like Underwood is, there is a lot of pressure to perform. It’s also something that we’ve seen happen throughout the NIL era. The first class with NIL was in 2021, where Quinn Ewers was the No. 1 quarterback in the country. In fact, when you look back at all of the top quarterback prospects on Rivals, it’s not great.
- 2021: Quinn Ewers
- 2022: Cade Klubnik
- 2023: Arch Manning
- 2024: DJ Lagway
- 2025: Bryce Underwood
- 2026: Keisean Henderson
That group has seen multiple transfers and a lot of disappointment across the board. At one point, Ewers was givent the nickname “Mullet Mahomes” and there is a lot of raw talent. Even with the talent, seeing that little success overall, even with a College Football Playoff semifinal from Ewers and the Texas Longhorns in 2024.
It does raise the question when it comes to recruiting: will college programs be more careful with recruiting top quarterbacks? With how many great quarterbacks we have seen enter the transfer portal over the years, will this see a shift in NIL dollars being distributed? Now, some schools are still going to pay these players, and it’s not as simple as “the top recruits” aren’t being successful. In 2020, the No. 1 (Bryce Young) and No. 3 (C.J. Stroud) quarterbacks went top-two in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Teams will obviously still prioritize the best athletes when it comes to recruiting, but the more the top quarterbacks falter at their first schools, the more questions will come up with high school recruiting long-term.
Underwood is just the latest example, and he could become the poster boy for being patient with top quarterbacks.
