Sherrone Moore admits he’s never seen a freshman quarterback like Bryce Underwood

The Michigan Wolverines entered Fall Camp with a quarterback battle underway, looking to improve from last year’s struggles at the position. In the end, head coach Sherrone Moore would name true freshman Bryce Underwood the team’s starting quarterback.

Shortly after making the decision, Moore went into why the Wolverines are trusting the offense to a true freshman. Throughout camp, he stunned the coaching staff. It got to the point that, even before playing a game, Moore can’t remember a freshman like Underwood.

“Probably halfway through camp, I was like, ‘Ah, this guy’s pretty good,'” Sherrone Moore said. “‘I think this guy might be the guy.’ Had a scrimmage, and I think it was the first time we went to the stadium, he made a couple of throws, and I just looked at Chip [Lindsey], and he nodded at me. Looked at Coach [Biff] Poggi, who was behind me, like, ‘Yeah, I think this is the guy.’ But you wanted to see him do that every day, every practice, every time we went in the stadium.”

Bryce Underwood played at Belleville High School in Michigan. There, he was a five-star recruit in the Class of 2025. He was the top-ranked prospect overall and the top-ranked quarterback in that recruiting cycle. His recruitment was, naturally, followed intently. Michigan reportedly committed between $10 and $12 million to the quarterback over four years in NIL to get him to flip from LSU.

Now, just months after getting to Michigan, Underwood is set to be the team’s starting quarterback. He becomes just the fourth Michigan quarterback in history to start as a freshman, joining Rick Leach, Chad Henne, and Tate Forcier. Most recently, Forcier did it in 2009.

“Have I seen a freshman like him [at] quarterback? Not that I could imagine,” Moore said. “Not that I could think of. He’s only what? The fourth freshman starting quarterback here. So, not very many.”

Sherrone Moore explains why Michigan named Bryce Underwood starting QB

Michigan completely flipped its quarterback room from last season. Along with Bryce Underwood, the Wolverines have Jadyn Davis, Mikey Keene, and  Jake Garcia, who all battled for the starting job. In the end, though, Sherrone Moore landed on the star freshman.

“Bryce Underwood will be our starting quarterback. I’ll confirm that. He’s earned the opportunity. It was not given to him. All the other quarterbacks had a really good camp as well. I really thought Jadyn Davis has come along and taken the next steps. He’ll be the two behind him. He’s done a really good job,” Moore said.

“Bryce took the necessary steps and really took the position. Took ownership of his abilities and took ownership of the team and became a leader on the team and a guy that guys look to. Just did the things the right way. Used his skill and never tried to do too much. For a young guy, very mature, beyond his years, and he’s still only 18 years old. He’s going to make mistakes, but that’s what we’re here for. Coaches and players, we’re all going to support him as he goes on this journey. And we go on this journey together, but he’s earned that job.”

Michigan opens the season against the New Mexico Lobos at home on August 30th. After that, the schedule picks up in intensity, with the Wolverines going to have a road test against the Oklahoma Sooners.