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Belleville QB Bryce Underwood, No. 1 national recruit, is reversing his commitment to Michigan

Vaseline November 22, 2024

Michigan’s dismal season just got a lot better.

The Wolverines have a commitment from Belleville quarterback Bryce Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 recruit, to join the 2025 recruiting class.

Underwood posted the news, first reported by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, on Instagram.

Belleville cornerback Elijah Dotson, who transferred from Pittsburgh to Michigan earlier this week, confirmed to The News that Underwood is joining him.

“He’s turned around. Bryce is going to Michigan; I found out earlier today,” Dotson told The Detroit News Thursday evening. “I’m very excited. My brother and I were together for just one year in Belleville and now we can continue our relationship in Michigan.”

Michigan, the defending national champion, reportedly had a NIL offer of more than $10 million over four years for Underwood, who took an official visit to LSU on Nov. 9 and watched Alabama crush the Tigers 42-13 . LSU (6-4) also lost to Florida 27-16 on Saturday.

Champions Circle, the premier collective for Michigan athletics, issued a news release Thursday evening thanking those who “worked tirelessly behind the scenes” to secure Underwood’s pledge.

“We are very excited to keep Bryce home in Michigan as he continues to build his legacy,” said local businessman Nate Forbes, founder and chairman of Champions Circle. “I would like to personally thank Jolin and Larry Ellison, who were instrumental in making this happen by providing Champions Circle with invaluable guidance and financial resources.”

Michigan (5-5) has struggled offensively this season, with little stability at the quarterback position, having to juggle three signal calls all season. Davis Warren, Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle were each starters this season. The Wolverines were not upgraded through the transfer portal after last season’s hero JJ McCarthy left for the NFL.

Michigan found the best option on the recruiting trail, causing Underwood to change his mind ahead of the Early-Signing Period, which approaches Dec. 4-6, when Underwood could make everything official by signing a National Letter of Intent.

Underwood, 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, has tremendous arm strength and accuracy and has worked on his running game over the past two years, rushing for more than 500 yards this season, including two rushing TDs in Belleville’s 35-21 regional final loss to No. 1 Detroit Catholic Central Friday night, when he completed 11 of 23 passes for 188 yards and a TD with two interceptions in his last high school competition.

And what a career it was for Underwood, who led Belleville to the Division 1 state championship his freshman and sophomore seasons, then helped Belleville’s winning streak to 38 games his junior year before losing to Southfield A&T in the state finals at Ford Field . .

Underwood committed to a crowded cafeteria in Belleville in early January and said numerous times that his efforts were solid. He then took his official visit to LSU earlier this month before seeing a sinking ship with the Tigers losing again and again.

Belleville coach Calvin Norman said he didn’t see Underwood transferring from LSU to Michigan, despite the talk about the NIL money.

“My phone is blowing up; it’s vibrating right now, I just saw Bryce turn on ESPN,” Norman told The News Thursday evening. “I haven’t heard from Bryce’s dad. I’m shocked because I didn’t think it would happen.”

Norman later said he reached Underwood’s father, who told him that “it’s official. He’s going to Michigan and the first day of practice for him is December 19th.”

Norman said: “We’re all excited for him. It’s great that he’s staying home.’

Underwood was on a mission to return to Ford Field and win another state championship prior to the season. He subsequently did not speak to some media members and Belleville coaches prevented the players from speaking to the press during the postseason.

Did the pressure of LSU’s demise and Michigan’s at-large bid have anything to do with Underwood’s troubles over the past month? He was 50-4 during his career, 2-2 in his last four games, a 30-29 loss to Howell in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship game, and then the loss to Catholic Central.

Underwood departs Belleville next month and holds the state career records for passing yards (11,234) and TD passes (149). His best season was his junior year when he threw for 3,329 yards and 44 TDs with only three interceptions.

Underwood finished this season with 2,255 yards and 29 TDs, continuing to improve his running game.

Well, Michigan fans don’t care how Underwood’s prep career ended; they’re just looking forward to the day he leads Michigan’s offense in the Big House, which will most likely be next fall.

Staff writer Angelique S. Chengelis contributed to this report.

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