Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood is heading into his second season with plenty to prove, and the outside noise around him has been loud all offseason. Some of it has come from people who have never played the position, including former Utah and NFL standout Eric Weddle, who suggested Underwood might not be able to play quarterback and said he wouldn’t be surprised if the backup was starting by Week 2.
That kind of talk has only added to the scrutiny around a player who arrived in Ann Arbor with massive expectations after flipping his commitment from LSU to Michigan. Underwood was billed as a five-star talent and the No. 1 overall prospect, so the bar was always going to be sky-high. His freshman season didn’t meet that standard, and his showing in the 2026 Spring Game didn’t help quiet the criticism.
But now, Underwood has landed an unexpected vote of confidence from one of the least likely voices imaginable: Urban Meyer.
The former Ohio State head coach praised Underwood on his podcast, “The Triple Option,” saying, "If God said, 'I'm going to go make me a quarterback,' it's going to look a lot like Bryce Underwood," Meyer said on his podcast, "The Triple Option.""As far as size, athleticism, he's a great kid, he works at it."
Meyer didn’t stop there. He also made it clear that he believes Kyle Whittingham is the right person to help develop Underwood and get Michigan moving in the right direction. Even with the praise, Meyer acknowledged that Underwood still has work ahead of him.
The numbers from last season show why the conversation has been so mixed. Underwood finished with 2,428 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also added 392 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, giving Michigan a threat with his legs even if the passing production fell short of what many expected.
Now the challenge is different, even if the pressure feels familiar. Underwood is working with a new coaching staff again, and there is a sense that the team Whittingham has put together in Ann Arbor has created more optimism around the program. Meyer certainly thinks Whittingham can be the one to straighten things out.
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