Michigan Wolverines' latest offer out of the transfer portal could be a speed bump in starting Bryce Underwood this season
The Michigan Wolverines found their quarterback of the future in Bryce Underwood, but they were cautious enough that they opted in to bring in another more experienced quarterback out of the transfer portal so they didn't have to start Underwood right away as an 18-year-old freshman quarterback. However, the transfer quarterback they did bring in, […]
The Michigan Wolverines found their quarterback of the future in Bryce Underwood, but they were cautious enough that they opted in to bring in another more experienced quarterback out of the transfer portal so they didn't have to start Underwood right away as an 18-year-old freshman quarterback.
However, the transfer quarterback they did bring in, Mikey Keene, has barely practiced since showing up to Ann Arbor. The only competition for Underwood has been redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis, who has impressed, but is a year removed from a season where he couldn't see the field over Alex Orji, even after Orji entered the portal.
This has prompted the Wolverines to sniff around in the spring transfer portal for quarterbacks to add to their roster. They might have found in Iowa's Brendan Sullivan.
Despite starting just three games, Sullivan was arguably the most dynamic quarterback Iowa has had in quite some time. Sullivan started three games for Iowa last season, completing 38-of-53 passes (71.1 percent) for 475 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. He also added 202 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Sullivan is interested in coming to Michigan. His dad is Mike Sullivan, a three-year letterman at offensive tackle for Michigan from 1993-95. Playing and potentially starting for a blue blood like Michigan and playing for his dad's school is an understandably appealing option.
However, the threat of Bryce Underwood looms large. While he struggled in the spring game, there are still plenty of summer practices to go, and Underwood's talent will keep him right in line for the job. This is a risk for virtually every quarterback who looks to Ann Arbor for a future home this season. It would be just as understandable if Sullivan looked elsewhere solely because of Underwood.
The most interesting takeaway from this is the staff's continued underlying belief that they do not want to start Underwood this season if they can help it. They pursued Mikey Keene earlier to start, and their continued interest in other quarterbacks instead of letting Underwood take the reins while Keene recovers from injury re-emphasizes that point.
