ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- While it wasn't a full air-raid type of performance, true freshman quarterback Tommy Carr put on a show in the spring game. Utilizing both his arm and his legs, he looked well beyond his years, as someone who should still have been attending classes at Saline High School.
But now, there's a bona fide competition for the backup Michigan football quarterback position.
Carr is battling with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, the former Colorado State starter who didn't arrive in Ann Arbor until the summer. While Carr had the early edge, the backup QB spot is still completely up for grabs, it appears.
"I'd say the biggest thing, kind of going back to playing clean and being efficient, they have two different play styles," quarterbacks coach
Koy Detmer Jr. said. "But it's a consistency, play-in, play-out, putting us in positive plays, taking care of the football, and just being efficient and helping us move the ball in offense, in whatever facet that looks like.
"Obviously, Tommy having gotten all those reps that he got in spring, being comfortable in the offense, and a little step ahead in that aspect. Yeah, he kind of did have the upper hand, and then Brayden's done a great job working hard this fall camp. And it's been a pleasant, pleasant surprise just with his veteran presence and having played a lot of ball.
"From an evaluation aspect, it's really just looking at that consistency at each practice and scrimmages. Are we making the right reads, the right decisions, and helping our offense be productive?"
Both quarterbacks are very different in their abilities and capabilities. With still 11 days to go before the 2026 season opener, there's no sure winner for the backup competition, and while Carr is flashing a bit of his talent in fall camp, Fowler-Nicolosi has the experience factor, which is helping him.
"I'd say it's pretty neck-and-neck," Detmer said. "Again, they both have their own flavor of how they play, and they're doing a great job working within the confinements of the offense, making those decisive reads and those decisions. One has kind of that big arm, and that veteran, he's played in games; the lights aren't too big, and then Tommy, he has some savviness about him where he's just out there playing ball.
"So I love that about both of them. I'd say right now they're working really hard, and they're going to make that a competitive spot whoever does win it."
Either way, Bryce Underwood is the cemented starter for the Wolverines. The question still remains, however, if it's either out of necessity or luxury, which quarterback will come in after him?
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football backup QB battle remains 'neck-and-neck'
