Bryce Underwood is heading into his second season at Michigan with no shortage of ambition, and the bar he’s set is about as high as it gets.
After a freshman year that didn’t unfold the way anyone around the Wolverines hoped, Underwood has spent the offseason tightening up the parts of his game that gave him trouble. He threw for 2,428 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, but the inconsistency showed up in his footwork and, at times, in the accuracy of his throws.
Now, he’s working with QB coach Jordan Palmer and training with NFL great Joe Burrow as he tries to turn that raw talent into something more polished.
On The Rich Eisen Show, Underwood laid out the three goals driving him this season.
"First, I'm team first. So, this thing right here, the national championship is the main goal," Underwood told Eisen.
"So, that's number one. And then number two, being the best player, best quarterback in the country.
The other thing is also being the best leader I can be for my team. So, that's my main three goals."
That’s a loaded checklist for any quarterback, let alone one still early in his college career. Underwood also said his first conversation with head coach Kyle Whittingham came with a clear message: the staff trusts him to run the offense, but they also want more from him as a leader.
He said that push has helped him grow into a more vocal presence.
"Overall being more of a leader, vocalizing leadership overall," said Underwood. "So I feel that's been one of the biggest step ups for me.
Continuously getting closer with my teammates in that aspect so they can trust me. Trust is a big factor in leadership as well."
Underwood has previously said he wants to prove he’s the best player to come out of Michigan. He didn’t go that far on Eisen’s show, but aiming to be the best quarterback and best player in the country is still a serious statement.
The talent is there. Nobody questions that.
But the path to those goals is steep, and Michigan’s schedule leaves almost no margin for mistakes. Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State are all on the slate, and Underwood will have to earn every bit of praise that comes his way.
Impossible? No. But the room for error is tiny.
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For Michigan, the intrigue is obvious. Guerrant is the kind of in-state talent the Wolverines always want to keep home, and LSU is also expected to stay in the mix as he lines up multiple game-day visits. Even with Oregon holding the commitment, this looks more like a long recruiting fight than a finished decision, and the next round of visits could tell a lot about where the pressure is coming from. [Read more 🡒]