ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit expects Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood to make a significant leap in his second season with the Wolverines.
Herbstreit discussed the college football quarterback landscape during a recent appearance on “Crain & Cone.” He believes the offseason will be crucial for Underwood’s development under Michigan’s coaching staff.
“I think he’s going to have a massive jump, you would expect,” Herbstreit said. “There are times when, if you’re just evaluating him, you have to be careful of just walking away with really concrete thoughts of a guy that’s playing as an 18-year-old and an offense that would take two steps forward, one step back. They didn’t really have any receivers… I think he’s going to kind of take off this offseason. I think they’re going to have an offseason to study him and where his sweetspot is, where he can really play well.”
Underwood played his freshman season in an offense that struggled with consistency. The lack of reliable receiving options limited what Michigan could do through the air.
The ESPN analyst said Underwood hasn’t reached his potential yet.
Herbstreit gets insight into Underwood’s character from his son Chase Herbstreit, who plays for the Wolverines. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive about Underwood’s approach to the game.
“My own son cannot say enough good things about him,” Kirk Herbstreit said of Underwood through Chase Herbstreit. “Which tells me a lot about the way the locker room feels about him and his work ethic and his approach to his job. Which, I love.”
Michigan’s coaching staff will have a full offseason to evaluate Underwood’s strengths. They’ll work to design an offense that maximizes his abilities rather than forcing him into a system that doesn’t fit.
The quarterback’s work ethic and leadership qualities have impressed teammates. That foundation should help him take the next step in his development.
Underwood’s ceiling remains high as he enters his second year in Ann Arbor. The combination of talent, work ethic, and a better understanding of the offense could lead to a breakout season.
