College Football Coaches Suggest Michigan Made $10 Million Mistake on QB
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood received criticism from college football coaches after he underwhelmed last year.
In 2025, the Michigan Wolverines secured the top recruit for their class in Bryce Underwood. However, several college football coaches believe the Wolverines made a costly error in signing the young quarterback. Underwood agreed to an NIL deal worth approximately $10 million, paying him nearly $3 million per season at Michigan. Unfortunately, Underwood's freshman season at Michigan did not meet expectations.
He threw for 2,428 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, completing 60.3% of his passes. However, he also added 392 yards and six touchdowns on 88 carries for the 9-4 Wolverines. One coach who faced Underwood criticized former Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham for not developing quarterback talent in his staff, stating that in 21 years, his team has never had a quarterback drafted.
Another Big Ten defensive coordinator explained that Underwood faces extra pressure due to his substantial salary, with the issue being the expectations arising from his recruitment. While some argue that Underwood could develop into a dangerous quarterback in his sophomore season under Whittingham's system, the case of Bryce Underwood should warn programs against overpaying freshmen based on their high school hype, as not all players succeed at the college level.
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