The talk of the town in Ann Arbor has been Bryce Underwood ever since he flipped his commitment from the LSU Tigers to stay in-state and play for the Michigan Wolverines. But after the second spring game, questions are starting to rise for the quarterback.

Underwood entered Ann Arbor as the No.1 overall and five-star prospect from Detroit, Michigan. The QB started as a true freshman in the 2025 season. Now, Steve Deace, the host of Michigan Podcast and Crain & Cone, asks a painful question. 

“If we would have known going in...that's the way he was going to look in his second spring game after almost 150 practices at Michigan, we all have been disappointed if we would have known in advance that's how he would have looked,” Deace said on the podcast. 

For starters, Bryce Underwood was not supposed to take part in the spring game. The quarterback still played one quarter and did not look comfortable. The former five-star prospect went 3-of-9 with only 22 passing yards and also gave up two sacks. 

Underwood’s best games came against Maryland and Northwestern, both teams that are considered less talented than the Wolverines.

Still, Kyle Whittingham, in his first year as head coach of the Wolverines, has named Bryce as QB1 after the spring game. 

After the spring game, Whittingham confirmed, “Bryce is our starter right now.” And the veteran head coach is keeping faith in Underwood. 

“First of all, Bryce was thrown into a pretty tough situation last fall. You know, a true freshman, 18 years old, starting quarterback, not only a P4 program, but Michigan. I mean...you know, you’re under the spotlight,” he said.

Last year, Underwood played under a different head coach and was without a dedicated quarterback coach.

“(Bryce) didn’t have a dedicated quarterback coach last year, from what I was told," he added. "He was a little rough around the edges, still is a bit. But we had, you talk about spring ball, but long before that, January, February, we’re in the film room and talking him through mechanics and footwork and read progressions and all that.”

Now under Whittingham, Koy Detmer followed Whittingham to Ann Arbor and will help Bryce. 

Underwood also worked with private quarterback coach Jordan Palmer for three months in the offseason, trying to fix his issues of footwork and throwing mechanics. Those issues were still evident in the spring game. 

However, another quarterback did shine during this game, and that has not gone unnoticed.

What Did the Insider Say About Tommy Carr?

Tommy Carr, now the true freshman quarterback from Saline, Michigan, and a legacy recruit for the Wolverines, also played in the spring game.

“Tommy Carr just looked a lot more comfortable and a lot more in charge of the offense, and he'd only had 15 practices," Deace said on the podcast.

Carr, a four-star prospect, initially had committed to play for the Miami (OH) RedHawks, then flipped his commitment to the school his family has a long-standing history with. 

In the spring game, the signal-caller went 21 for 30 passing the football with 143 passing yards and also led the rushing unit with 10 carries and 59 rushing yards. 

The Saline, Michigan, native QB could put up these numbers in only about 15 practices, while Underwood has had ten times more worth of practice at about 150. 

For now, Whittingham has faith in Underwood, but only time will tell if that changes or not. 

Read more at the Michigan Football Community

Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote