Quarterback Bryce Underwood was the preseason darling, but his 9-4 overall season forced a reckoning, one Underwood is now addressing head-on. His new strategy is to take it slow.

“Overall, just simplifying everything, making everything as simple as possible, easy as possible. That's a simple way to put it,” Underwood said on July 27. “Overall, just making the game way easier, not doing too much, just being calm, relaxed in a pocket, just football.”

The Wolverines quarterback sat down for an interview on The Rich Eisen Show after coming off a training session with NFL star QB Joe Burrow. He talked about what he’s learnt so far, not just from the Cincinnati Bengals’ passer, but also from reflecting this off-season.

Last season was a systematic failure on the Wolverines’ part. They had a unanimously voted five-star QB with a 6’4 physicality who had to play with a dedicated QB coach. The result? Just 2,428 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions. 

The Wolverines’ neglect of Underwood was one of the first things Kyle Whittingham called out after he took over as the head coach. 

“First of all, Bryce was thrown into a pretty tough situation last fall,” Whittingham said in an episode of The Blue Print. “You know, a true freshman, 18 years old, starting quarterback, not only a P4 program, but Michigan. I mean, that's, you know, you're under the spotlight.”

Whittingham allowed Underwood the grace to fail over the expectations set for him last year. The pressure to shine at just 18 for an elite program cracked him, and he opened up about the same.

He shared that his battle is limited to the physical one on the field. underwood's battle, he realized, was as much mental as physical.

“I’d say being mentally stronger,” Underwood said. “I feel like last year was more of like, OK, see if I'm physically gifted, and now it's about seeing how mentally strong I can be going throughout the season.”

Critics have withdrawn their trust in Underwood, but Whittingham has his back. He once again reiterated his stance on the QB and is letting him grow.

“Bryce is our guy”: Kyle Whittingham defends Bryce Underwood over his 2025 season

On July 27, Kyle Whittingham once again showed his support for Bryce Underwood, who struggled immensely last season. 

“Well, Bryce is our guy,” Whittingham said on the Rich Eisen Show. “To be fair, he was a barely turned 18-year-old true freshman last year and thrust into the situation that he was, and even though there's a lot of room for improvement, still won nine ballgames and put up some decent numbers. We believe in Bryce, and he's got all the tools in the toolbox.”

Last season, he completed 60.3 percent. He completed 202 throws from 335 attempts. Bryce made 88 carries for 392 yards and threw six rushing touchdowns. 

Underwood, with his new coach, is improving himself for this season. Will the team fare well?

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar