The Michigan Wolverines have their starting quarterback in sophomore Bryce Underwood, but who will be named the backup will be a fluid situation from now through fall camp.
As Michigan begins spring ball, they currently have redshirt freshman Chase Herbstreit and true freshman Tommy Carr taking snaps behind Underwood. True freshman Brady Smigiel is still recovering from a torn ACL, while incoming transfers Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (Colorado State) and Colin Hurley (LSU) will be in the mix at some point,
with Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham saying on Tuesday they “still have a QB or two that will join us in the summer that aren’t here yet.”
Whittingham pointed to Tommy Carr as someone who’s caught his eye in a positive manner.
“Tommy Carr is doing a nice job, I can tell you that,” Whittingham said. “He’s probably the one that stands out so far. Nothing’s been set in stone, obviously, but based on what we’ve seen to this point, Tommy has looked like he’s got a good skill set.”
Carr, listed at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, was a three-star recruit in the 2026 class and played high school ball down the road from Ann Arbor at Saline High School. Carr’s senior season was impressive, throwing for 2,737 yards, 37 touchdowns with six interceptions and a 69.3% completion rate. Carr also rushed for 276 yards with eight rushing scores.
Carr ultimately being above someone like Fowler-Nicolosi, who had 28 starts with Colorado State, seems like an uphill battle. However, it’s clear Whittingham likes what he sees from Carr to this point. And it doesn’t hurt that his brother, Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, is becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
