CHICAGO -- The Michigan football team may just go as far as the offense takes it. And the person who will be overseeing that offense from a player perspective is second-year quarterback Bryce Underwood. Thus, the team may just go as far as Bryce Underwood takes it.
From a defensive perspective, Underwood is doing a good job leading the offense through spring and summer. Defensive tackle Trey Pierce, who has been around since 2023, thinks that not only is Underwood doing a good job, but the new offense under offensive coordinator Jason Beck suits him to a tee.
"I think that this offense fits Bryce pretty well," Pierce said. "Just going against him every day in practice, spring ball, you can ask my teammates, I was in there complaining about the different
looks we get from the O-line and how, like, they get Bryce in really good situations and, like, it's a frustrating offense to go against. I think it's one to be really good with."
Running back Jordan Marshall, of course, is a part of that offense, and he's seen Underwood grow from last year to this year. Both Marshall and Underwood were spring captains for the Wolverines, and in that, he's seen him grow as a leader. But he's also seen him grow as a player, thanks in large part to how much he prepares and tries to be great.
"I wouldn't say I'm in his ear because I know a lot of people are. But I also am confident in him because I think he's an amazing player. I truly believe that," Marshall said. "He's worked his butt off, and he's going to prove a lot of people wrong this season. And the reason I can say that is because he works every single day to do that.
"I think he's meeting with Koy. He's going to run routes wth the receivers at 8 p.m. at night. He's doing all the extra things of how you connect with your teammates. And I think he's done a great job at doing that. And I'm just, again, all Bryce needs to do at the end of the day is be himself. And he needs to shout out everybody else and do what Bryce does. And that's be a really good quarterback and person."
One of the major narratives since Kyle Whittingham took over the Michigan football program is how the coaching staff is now working with Underwood, especially compared to the previous staff.
Underwood did have a quarterbacks coach in analyst Josh Sinagoga, but according to Whittingham, Underwood wasn't coached. And now, both Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. are hands-on with the former five-star. Marshall can see those dividends starting to be paid, and he thinks that fans will see a big difference once the season comes.
"Like, quite honestly, Bryce hasn't been coached since he left high school," Marshall said. "And he's been coached but not had a guy there by his side helping him that has seen good quarterback play. I mean, Coach Beck is also helping coach him. So it's exciting. And he's taking the coaching every single day, getting better. And those two are really close. Laughing, I think they're having a meeting right before camp. But they're great. And I get to work with them. I worked with them this morning on some stuff, and it's great talking to them. They both know so much about football. And Koy, he's a good dude. He's excited to see Bryce play and prove everyone wrong."
The Wolverines will start preparing in earnest in days, with fall camp starting officially on August 5, with eyes on the season opener on September 5 against Western Michigan at The Big House.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Why Michigan football players have faith in QB Bryce Underwood
