It’s been a tough year for the defending national champions, but on Thursday the Wolverines got some great news: The nation’s No. 1 recruit, quarterback Bryce Underwood – an athletic 6-foot-4, 205-pound 17-year-old – announced that he would reverse his commitment from LSU to Michigan.
After nearly a year of loyalty to the Tigers, the move sent shockwaves through the college football recruiting world. However, Michigan football legend and alumnus Tom Brady saw it coming.
A key part of Underwood’s commitment to the Wolverines, a program source said, was Brady being on several Zoom meetings with Underwood and becoming a great resource for the young QB.
Underwood grew up a Michigan fan and is from Belleville, Michigan, just 20 minutes outside of Ann Arbor. Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore preaches and recruits based on “the best players in Michigan, go to Michigan.”
But former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t seem as interested in pursuing Underwood the way other top programs were. Not long after Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers’ top job in January, Sean Magee returned to Ann Arbor to become Michigan’s general manager after working in the Chicago Bears’ front office.
And Magee and Moore made Underwood a big priority.
Yes sir! The best players in Michigan, go to Michigan!! #ProcessAboutPrice25 #GoBlue🔵
— Sherrone Moore (@Coach_SMoore) November 20, 2024
The two worked for months to repair their relationship with the star QB. Things kicked into high gear this week when Underwood spent two days in Michigan and felt very comfortable with the direction things are now going with the program.
The Wolverines, less than a year removed from a national championship, are currently 5-5 and out of the playoffs.
“Everyone assumes that we only give this boy eight figures, but that is not true,” the source said.
— Bryce Jay Underwood (@BryceUnderwoo16) November 22, 2024
Now that the Wolverines have their QB of the future in place, expect them to make a lot more noise on the recruiting front with the early signing period less than two weeks away.
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(Photo: Nic Antaya/UFL/Getty Images)