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Why Bryce Underwood is Michigan football’s most important player
Andrew and Tony break down how vital Bryce Underwood is to the U-M program and what a successful season would like for the freshman QB.
For Michigan football, camp was largely filled with platitudes.
A lot of guys pushing each other, players who have taken the next step and rooms full of depth and talent.
However, in the season-opening press conference, U-M coach Sherrone Moore spoke candidly behind the lectern inside the Towsley Museum at Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor on Monday, Aug. 25. He said he wishes “the game was tomorrow,” that’s how excited he is, and even shared some specific roster information.
The news of the day was Moore’s announcement that freshman sensation Bryce Underwood is officially the starting quarterback. It was pretty much the worst kept secret in college football, but still needed to be formally announced.
That was far and away the most important official announcement going into Week 1 against New Mexico, but Moore also clarified a host of other depth chart questions.
Here are the five most notable takeaways from Moore’s press conference:
Back up quarterback was already on roster
After a rough season at quarterback in 2024, the Wolverines went to the portal to add depth in the room. Michigan added veteran Mikey Keene last winter, then when he suffered some health complications in the spring and U-M wasn’t sure if he’d be able to go, it added Jake Garcia for another experienced arm in the room.
Neither will be the backup to Underwood come gameday.
“All of the other quarterbacks had a really good camp as well,” Moore said. “But I really thought (sophomore) Jadyn Davis has come along and taken the next steps. He’ll be the No. 2 behind (Underwood).”
Davis, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback from Charlotte, North Carolina (Providence Day) was once considered the heir apparent to J.J. McCarthy. Rated the No. 7 quarterback in the class of 2024 and the No. 93 overall player in the nation per 247Sports composite rankings, he was a four-year starter in high school, the last two of which were at the aforementioned powerhouse program.
He was named North Carolina’s Mr. Football and the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in both of his upperclassmen seasons as he went 24-2 overall and won NCISAA both campaigns. The QB had more than 30 Power Four offers out of high school including Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama and Notre Dame.
Offensive line is set as transfer wins final job
After contentious battles at a number of spots along the offensive line, the starting group has been set in stone for Saturday’s opener. The left tackle job was won by Evan Link by default after Andrew Babalola suffered a season-ending knee surgery in practice recently. Moore confirmed publicly for the first time on Monday and that he’ll undergo surgery.
“Praying for him,” Moore said. “But he’s in good spirits, that’s what we’re worried about. … he’ll come out stronger than ever.”
At left guard, it’s captain Giovanni El-Hadi, while Greg Crippen won the job at center. Crippen, a fifth-year senior, lost the battle last fall camp to Dominick Giudice but took over the job by the middle of the season and closed as the starter.
At right tackle, Andrew Sprague had been the favorite to win the job since camp opened and held onto that position, while the final right guard spot − originally a battle between four players − went to Brady Norton. He beat out Nate Efobi.
“Brady Norton looks like he’ll start right now, but Nate Efobi will play as well,” Moore said. “Feel like we’re in a good place with those guys and we’ve got guys behind them who can play. … feel like we’ve got good depth in that group.”
Surprise wide receiver moves to No. 3
Donovan McCulley is not only wearing the No. 1 jersey, but is the No. 1 wide receiver option on the team. Behind him, Moore said, is Semaj Morgan, who stood out as a freshman before taking a step back in a sophomore slump type of season.
The main battle has really been for the third wide receiver in the set, where a true sophomore has emerged.
“The other guy who’s stepped up is Channing Goodwin,” Moore said of Davis’ former high school teammate. “He’s really taken the next step to be that third guy.”
He seemed to be a favorite of Underwood’s during the spring game, where he was targeted nine times and had four catches for 23 yards as the two just missed connecting on multiple deep shots. Beyond Goodwin, the next three in the room are said to be Kendrick Bell, Fredrick Moore and Anthony Simpson with true freshman Andrew Marsh closing in on the two-deep.
True freshman will return kicks
Speaking of Marsh, he will open the year as a starter on special teams.
Morgan said earlier this month that while he’s the front runner on punt returns, a number of wide receivers and running backs were in the mix at kick return. Last year, it was Jordan Marshall, but likely wanting to preserve his health as part of the “1A-1B” combination in the backfield with Justice Haynes, U-M has opted to go with Marsh on kickoff.
“Andrew Marsh is dynamic,” Moore said. “He’s going to touch the football.”
Freshman running back has taken massive leap
Michigan knows Haynes and Marshall will get the bulk of the carries this season, but just about every team in America likes to have a third option. A pass blocker, a third-down back who can catch a pass or just an insurance policy incase somebody gets banged up.
The Wolverines brought in a pair of transfer running backs in John Volker (Princeton) and CJ Hester (UMass) after the spring game to increase competition, but neither were mentioned as candidates for the job. For starters, Hester left the program earlier this month.
But when Moore listed the three backs vying for the last spot, it was true freshman Jasper Parker, redshirt freshman Micah Ka’apana and the man who showed out in the spring game, Bryson Kuzdzal. Surprisingly, Parker was mentioned first.
“Jasper Parker’s really taking the turn to possibly be that guy,” Moore said.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
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