The Michigan Wolverines are banking on superstar freshman QB Bryce Underwood living up to the hype, both figuratively and literally. With NIL deals exceeding $3 million, according to On3, “Big Blus” is all-in on the phenom.
On3 analyst J.D. PicKell expects big things from the five-star quarterback recruit but believes a well-rounded attack will suit Sherrone Moore the best. Could Underwood unlock what “UM” has been looking for?
College Football Analyst Forecasts Michigan Mix of Bryce Underwood, Run Game
On3 analyst JD PicKell wondered what incoming freshman QB Bryce Underwood would look like when the Wolverines squared off with the USC Trojans in Los Angeles on October 11. By then, according to him, HC Sherrone Moore will be leaning on him to match Lincoln Riley’s offensive aptitude. Home tests against Washington and Ohio State will be just as telling.
“If Bryce Underwood progresses to that level, by Game 6 for Michigan, then things get really, really interesting,” PicKell said Friday on “The Hard Count with J.D. PicKell.” “And then, at that point, I think the Death Star is fully operational, which would be the Chip Lindsey offense.”
Lindsey arrived by way of North Carolina, where he put out a balanced offense in 2024. RB Omarion Hampton, now playing for former Wolverines HC Jim Harbaugh with the NFL’s Chargers, was one of Lindsey’s three All-ACC honorees. Those in Ann Arbor are heavily relying on him to blend their offense while helping coach Underwood.
“We’ve thrown some coal on the hype train and told you we think he can be really good,” PicKell said. “I don’t think it’s crazy to think he could be an all-conference kind of player… The Big Ten title formula for Michigan the last couple of seasons, not last year, obviously, but when they were reeling off Big Ten titles, it was J.J. McCarthy, it was Cade McNamara.”
He continued, “It wasn’t like they had this prolific passing game where they threw for 300 yards a game.”
The Wolverines won three consecutive Big Ten crowns from 2021-23. In 2021, Michigan posted 228.7 passing yards per game, which ranked No. 68 in the nation. The next two seasons, that figure was even lower, as it went for 219.9 yards through the air in 2022 (No. 83) and 213.7 in 2023 (No. 82).
The Wolverines had their philosophy. Why put the ball in the air when you can keep it safely on the ground and eat up real estate?
“The reason why you were able to do that is because you ran the football at such an elite level,” PicKell said. “We’re not putting the ball in the air when we’ve got Blake Corum pounding the rock for over 1,000 yards in a season, when you’ve got Hassan Haskins going for 1,300 yards.”
Underwood and Michigan will kick off their 2025 campaign against New Mexico on August 30. Following that, along with their games against USC, Washington, and Ohio State, they also have scheduled showdowns against Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Maryland.
