Bryce Underwood wowed Michigan defenders in 2025 spring ball

DETROIT — The expectations for Michigan football freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood couldn’t be any higher. Though the former five-star shared reps with redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis this spring, all eyes are on the 2025 No. 1 overall recruit as he’s expected to win the starting job — even when Mikey Keene returns from injury.

During spring ball, all quarterback conversations that Underwood’s teammates had with the media also included Davis and how he was doing. But now that we’ve gotten to see both in the spring game, Underwood’s ability is undeniable. Even the defensive players aren’t just singing his praises, they’re gushing about his play — something that could certainly help them out should the offense have more success sustaining drives this season.

A former high school quarterback breaks down Underwood’s game

Michigan junior safety Brandyn Hillman isn’t just a defensive standout poised to enter the starting lineup this year, but he was a quarterback at the high school level. Though he no longer plays the position in college, he not only still knows about it, but he is tasked with defending Underwood’s throws in practice.

He told WolverinesWire (via the Locked On Wolverines Podcast) that he sees a signal caller that is far beyond his years compared to other freshmen or young quarterbacks.

“So Bryce, in my opinion — real polished,” Hillman said. “I played quarterback in high school, so it’s not like I was out there just running quarterback. You could put on a tape — I played quarterback. I could look at a quarterback — Bryce’s real polished.  He’s ahead of the game. Certain quarterbacks, when they get into a college atmosphere, they can’t pick up the game because it’s moving so fast. Bryce came in day one, it was smooth for him. He got an arm, his eyes, his arm’s live. It’s just certain things. You got to pick up defensive coverages. Sometimes we move certain coverages to (expletive deleted) his head up, (expletive deleted) like that.”

Hillman is noting that no matter what Wink Martindale and the defense does, Underwood is learning and improving, understanding that there’s a lot he doesn’t know. But he appears to innately understand what it takes to play at the college level.

Underwood’s progress from bowl prep to post-spring ball

It’s not usual that freshmen start at quarterback and thrive — and even when they do, it’s not usually right out of the gates. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence didn’t get to start until Week 5, with Kelly Bryant taking the reins initially. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa sat behind Jalen Hurts until late in the national championship game his freshman year.

Fifth-year defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny thinks that Underwood getting to play against the first-string Michigan defense in spring ball has helped the freshman phenom enormously.

“Just within this short little time — part of it, I think, he already had the ability, but just him seeing it from us on a daily basis and being able to have pocket awareness, I think that’s good training and that’s what’s going to translate into the season,” Benny said. “And, when the time comes, he’s gonna show that everything was worth it and all the work paid off. He’s just locked in on all the details, and he tries to make everything like a learning experience. “

But it’s not just about being thrown into the fire. Hillman notes that despite Underwood’s youth, he’s still got a lot to learn. However, the great news is that he has shown that he has the work ethic to thrive, even if it is in year one.

“He’s young. He’s still got to get into the playbook and get into everything, learn everything,” Hillman said. “So long as he keeps doing what he got to do now — because right now he’s doing everything that he’s supposed to do. I’m not going to say too much what he’s supposed to be doing, but he’s doing everything right. 

“And then, just got to keep being him. He’s a good kid — off the field and everything. You won’t see Bryce like, ‘Oh, I’m the biggest, baddest guy.’ It’s Bryce. He’s a cool guy.”

Fans will likely get their next opportunity to see Underwood in action on August 30 when Michigan football hosts New Mexico for the 2025 season opener at The Big House.