Michigan’s fall camp buzz has settled on one name, and it’s not hard to see why. With the Wolverines a little more than three weeks from their home opener against Western Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m., sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood is drawing the loudest early praise on the roster.
That praise started with new head coach Kyle Whittingham, who spoke on Big Ten Network and offered a strong early assessment of Underwood’s progress.
"He's coming along well," Whittingham said. "He's had a great first six days.
He is much further ahead than he was at the end of spring. He obviously worked hard this summer and did a lot of positive things getting himself ready in the film room, on the field, and so far through six practices I give him an A+."
“So far through six practices, I grade him an A+.”Kyle Whittingham gives his early assessment of @UMichFootball QB Bryce Underwood 👇 pic.twitter.com/dbvwCtl7XP
That kind of grade carries weight, especially coming from the man now leading Michigan.
The praise didn’t stop there. On Thursday, Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill talked to the media and made it clear he’s seen a different version of Underwood this fall.
#Michigan CB Jyaire Hill says QB Bryce Underwood looks more comfortable this fall camp compared to last camp because of the offense and the wide receiver room. He adds on how good Underwood has been: “That boy has turned into a demon.”
Hill goes against Underwood every day in practice, which gives his words some real bite. He’s not guessing; he’s seeing it up close.
There’s already been a glimpse of Underwood’s talent this spring, too, when he uncorked a behind-the-back touchdown pass that turned heads.
WILD: Michigan QB Bryce Underwood threw a TD pass behind his back 🤯 pic.twitter.com/AFKZNwLDGu
Taken together, those moments have fueled plenty of excitement around what Underwood might be able to do this season.
The hype is easy to understand, but it still needs a little guardrail. I’m buying it - just not all the way to the extreme.
No, I’m not expecting Underwood to jump straight into Heisman talk or become the best quarterback in the country. But I do think he’s taken real steps forward since last year, and that matters.
At minimum, he looks like a quarterback who should rank among the better ones in the Big Ten.
And for Michigan, that’s enough to matter. The Wolverines don’t need Underwood to carry them like a pass-first team. Their identity has long been built around the run game, and when they’ve had a quarterback who can keep things on schedule and make the right play at the right time, that’s when the formula has worked.
In Other News...
Michigan Fall Camp Buzz Centers On Two Names Fans Arent Watching
Michigans fall camp chatter has started to widen beyond the usual headline names, and one of the more interesting voices in the room has been offensive lineman Andrew Sprague. He pointed to wide receiver Channing Goodwin as a player who is getting overlooked, but who has shown enough in practice to suggest he can matter this season. For a roster always searching for reliable answers at receiver, any quiet rise from an under-the-radar target is the kind of development worth tracking.
Sprague also brought up Jonah Lealea, the Utah transfer working at defensive tackle, as another player drawing notice on the practice field. Michigan likes when newcomers settle in quickly, especially up front, and Lealeas early buzz suggests he may be closer to a meaningful role than the casual observer might assume. The staff still has time to sort out how those pieces fit, but the early signs have put both names on the list of players to watch as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Jyaire Hill Just Raised The Stakes For Michigan's Season
Jyaire Hill is already setting the tone for what Michigan wants this season to feel like. The senior cornerback said he is chasing a championship now, and the message lands with a little extra weight because the Wolverines are trying to keep their edge in a year when expectations are back where they usually are in Ann Arbor. It is the kind of veteran voice that can help frame a locker room, especially for a team looking to stay steady while the rest of the roster continues to evolve.
Offensively, Michigan is still working through how to best harness its ground game under Jason Beck, with Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter giving the staff real options in the backfield. There is also familiar Michigan quarterback chatter in the background, with ESPN analyst Booger McFarland saying J.J. McCarthy still has the tools to become a franchise quarterback even while backing up in Minnesota. For the Wolverines, it is another reminder that the programs present and future are both pulling in interesting directions. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fall Camp Is Heating Up Around A Few Crucial Starting Battles
The second week of fall camp is already sorting through a handful of Michigans most important jobs, and the competition has a way of making every practice rep feel a little bigger. Savion Hiter, JJ Buchanan, Channing Goodwin and Travis Johnson are among the players drawing attention as coaches sort out who can handle bigger roles this season, while Andrew Babalola, John Henry Daley, Cameron Brandt and Dominic Nichols are all part of the larger mix of linemen and edge players trying to carve out steady spots.
For Michigan, the appeal is obvious: these are the kinds of battles that can shape both the depth chart and the tone of the season before August is even over. Some of the evaluations are still unfolding, with coaches praising what certain players can do and leaving the final answer open, which is exactly what makes camp worth watching this time of year. [Read more 🡒]