Bryce Underwood doesn’t just look like he’s going through Michigan fall camp - he looks like a quarterback who’s already made real progress.
The Wolverines have only been in pads a short time as they get ready for the 2026 season, and the evidence so far is limited to practice clips. Michigan is going to show the best versions of its players, especially a young quarterback, so the picture is naturally incomplete. Still, the throws Underwood has put on tape this week have stood out.
One of the clearest came Wednesday, when Michigan posted a touchdown pass from Underwood to Utah transfer JJ Buchanan. Buchanan, who finished the season strong for the Utes, could be part of a dangerous receiver pairing with Marsh. Quarterback play will shape how far that goes, but Underwood’s delivery on the clip looked smoother and more accurate than what Michigan fans saw a year ago.
Playmakers 🙌 pic.twitter.com/JFRUUsYzuC
- Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) August 7, 2026
Michigan followed that up with two more clips Friday, and Underwood again looked settled in. He hit Buchanan on a back-shoulder fade against decent coverage, but the ball was placed exactly where it needed to be. Buchanan, listed at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, simply went up and finished the play.
That’s the kind of connection Michigan wants to see. Buchanan averaged 71 yards per game over his last three outings, and in each of those games he had at least one catch of 29 yards or more. Two of those grabs went for 60 yards or more.
Underwood also found Andew Marsh for what would have been a big gain. Marsh was Underwood’s top target last season and finished with 651 receiving yards, with most of that production coming in Big Ten play. He’s the proven piece in the room, and Michigan knows he was open a couple of times against Ohio State last season before Underwood never found him.
None of this proves a finished product. A handful of practice throws can only tell you so much, and the real test comes when Underwood does it in a game. That first big check arrives against Oklahoma.
But the early signs are hard to miss. The throwing motion looks cleaner.
The footwork has sharpened. The arm angle has been more consistent, and the ball doesn’t seem to be arriving with the same extra loft it sometimes needed last season.
The back-shoulder fade, in particular, was a throw Underwood struggled with a year ago.
That’s what makes these Buchanan completions worth watching. They’re only flashes, but they suggest Underwood is more comfortable, more controlled, and more confident with the ball in his hands. For now, that’s enough to get Michigan’s camp buzz rolling.
In Other News...
Michigans New Staff Faces Two Camp Battles That Will Shape Everything
Fall camp has already started to reveal what this new Michigan staff wants to become, and the early message from assistants Jim Harding and Kerry Coombs was rooted in the same place: competition. Coombs talked about the special teams work that has been part of the day-to-day focus under head coach Kyle Whittingham, while Harding pointed to the offensive line as one of the rosters strongest and most flexible groups as the Wolverines prepare for the season ahead.
For a staff trying to establish its identity quickly, those two areas matter as much as any headline battle on offense or defense. Michigan wants a physical edge, but it also wants stability in the hidden phases of the game and enough line depth to keep the whole operation moving. The picture is encouraging, even if a couple of the most important decisions still have to sort themselves out before kickoff week. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Marshall Fuels Michigan Hype Around Three Intriguing Young Names
Jordan Marshall has become one of the more interesting voices coming out of Michigans fall camp, and not just because he plays a position where the Wolverines are always looking for answers. In a recent interview, the running back talked through the offseason developments he has seen up close, offering a candid look at the young talent around the program and the buzz building as camp unfolds.
Marshalls praise centered on three names that figure to matter in Michigans next wave. He pointed to Bryce Underwood as a future Heisman candidate, while also identifying Savion Hiter and Dominic Nichols as players who could be in line for breakout seasons. It is the kind of internal optimism every program has in August, but when it comes from a player who has been around the field and the huddle, it carries a little more weight. [Read more 🡒]