Quarterback Bryce Underwood, the number 1 high school football recruit in the nation, flipped his decision on college from LSU to Michigan. 

Underwood, a standout quarterback from Belleville East High School in Missouri, has quickly emerged as one of the top recruits in the nation. Underwood has many great qualities which set the stage for a promising college career.

Considering the 2023 and 2024 recruiting cycles, Underwood is regarded by many as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. “[Underwood is] Named a five-star prospect by 247Sports, the No. 1 overall player in the nation, the No. 1 quarterback, and the No. 1 in the state of Michigan,” according to MGOBlue.com.

Underwood had approximately 11,500 passing yards and 179 (152 passing) touchdowns throughout his high school career. In addition, he usually ran for about 630 yards a season with approximately 8 rushing touchdowns, leading his high school in rushing yards despite playing quarterback.

Underwood formed a 38-game winning streak from freshman year to the state title game in his junior year. He led Belleville High to its first undefeated season ever in 2022.

Underwood has a very strong build and checks all of the boxes for a prototypical quarterback at the next level. According to MGOBlue, “He’s got a perfect physical frame for a QB, tall, long, decently thick, athletic, big hands, and a mammoth arm.” 

Many say his arm strength will make him similar to the Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

“I am excited to see what Underwood can do and excited to see how he is going to perform, even though he’s not going to LSU,” Saint Paul’s sophomore Owen Dannels-Smith said.

Underwood was looking for a program with a history of developing quarterbacks. He had been in touch with some of the best minds in college football, assessing what system would maximize his skill set.

Underwood realized LSU’s potential from the 2019 season with Joe Burrow to the 2022 season with Jayden Daniels, hence his commitment to playing with LSU in January.

However, as the months wore on, several factors started to weigh heavily on Underwood’s mind, causing him to question whether LSU was the right place for him. It wasn’t just about football; it was about where he could best develop his skills, his future, and his potential for success both on and off the field.

While Coach Orgeron had been instrumental in recruiting Underwood, the subsequent instability and transition period after two underwhelming years did little to put Underwood at ease. As LSU began to search for a new head coach, and with rumors swirling about possible changes to the offensive system, Underwood realized the program wasn’t going to provide the long-term stability he needed to succeed.

Of course, two underwhelming years under head coach Brian Kelly have not helped either.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s interest in Underwood was heating up. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, known for his work with quarterbacks at both the college and NFL levels, had been following Underwood closely and had developed a strong relationship with him.

Michigan offered an NIL package that exceeded LSU’s: a $5 million, 3-4 year offer. Most sources believe that Underwood could earn up to $10 million by going to Michigan, including getting paid by Barstool Sports president Dave Portnoy, a Michigan alumnus.

Underwood announced he would play at the University of Michigan because of its rich history, solid coaching staff, and proximity to home.

This news came as an unfortunate shock to LSU fans around Saint Paul’s.

“I was so happy about this news until I just heard about the decommit. We were so close to having another prodigy at LSU,” stated Saint Paul’s sophomore Kelly Thompson.

Underwood’s commitment brought mixed reactions nationally. Many have said that he could have made a bigger impact at other schools like Alabama and Ohio State, while others believe Michigan’s mix of tradition, fan support, and rising quarterback coaching would be the perfect environment for his development.

In doing so, the eyes of many college football fans will be pinned on Underwood as he seeks to make his mark to commence his college career. That will be one of those moments that would go down in his memory in Michigan football and open up a new avenue to begin Underwood’s journey into the NFL.

Meanwhile, it’s yet another dagger to LSU, a program that has seen a decline lately.

“I’m ready to bring my talents [and] my athleticism that I’m capable of bringing to the next level,” said Underwood.