Kyle Whittingham’s first Big Ten Media Days appearance as Michigan’s head coach offered a pretty clear snapshot of what he wants this team to be: physical, disciplined and built around a quarterback who can stress defenses in more ways than one.
A lot of the attention naturally landed on Bryce Underwood, and Whittingham didn’t shy away from the expectations around his quarterback. Underwood was just 18 last season, and Whittingham said the bar may have been set too high for him. Even so, he still delivered solid production and helped Michigan win nine games.
Whittingham was just as direct when describing what Underwood brings to the table physically. “He is big, runs a 4.6 40 and has a cannon for an arm.” He also praised the quarterback’s approach, saying his work ethic is “second to none” and that he will outwork anybody.
There’s still development left, but Whittingham pointed to real progress in the areas that matter most: footwork, reading defenses and pocket presence. He also made clear that the spring game didn’t tell the full story of how much Underwood has grown.
One thing that does appear likely to change is how often Michigan uses Underwood as a runner. Whittingham said the Wolverines will lean into that part of his game more than they did a year ago. He drew a comparison to Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, who was second on the Utes in rushing last season and helped power Utah to the No. 2 rushing attack in the country.
Dampier ran for 835 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, and while Whittingham didn’t promise Underwood would match that kind of output, he did say fans should expect to see him run a lot more.
Whittingham also showed he understands exactly what Michigan-Ohio State means inside the program. He said his friend Urban Meyer has talked to him multiple times about The Game, and that he knows the matchup carries major implications.
For Whittingham, the season will be judged by whether Michigan is still playing meaningful football in November. As for Ohio State, he said he hopes it comes down to “all the marbles” and that the winner of that game advances to the Big Ten Championship Game.
On the defensive side, Whittingham leaned into the same old football truth he’s built his coaching identity around: stop the run first. He said if Michigan can do that against the Big Ten’s best, it can force third-and-long situations and then go after the football.
That approach fits the roster moves Michigan has already made. The Wolverines added Utah transfer Jonah Lea'ea to bolster the interior defensive line and kept both Enow Etta and Trey Pierce. On offense, Michigan is counting on Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter to provide a boost in the backfield.
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At Michigan, the conversation is less about whether opportunities exist than which ones fit without jarring the brand. Carhartt and the University of Michigan Credit Union have both surfaced as plausible matches, each offering a different kind of cultural alignment, but the bigger question remains whether the administration is willing to put a sponsor on a uniform that has traditionally stood apart from the commercial trend. [Read more 🡒]
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Simon also arrives with a familiar coaching rhythm, having worked closely with quarterbacks coach Jason Beck at several stops, a connection that should matter as Michigan keeps trying to tighten the link between the passing games moving parts. The early focus will be on helping shape the next wave of receivers, including sophomore Andrew Marsh and transfer JJ Buchanan, as the Wolverines look for that room to take a meaningful step under a new coach. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has A Shot At A Massive 2028 QB Flip
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Wade remains the bigger swing, and the path to making that kind of move happen is still a long one. Michigan is trying to get him on campus and keep the communication line open, while Britt continues to stay in touch despite his Wisconsin commitment, giving the Wolverines at least a couple of live chances to turn early recruiting interest into something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]