Michigan’s highly touted quarterback Bryce Underwood began his college career in 2025 without what many consider a basic piece of player development: a dedicated quarterbacks coach, according to new remarks from Michigan’s head coach, Bryce Underwood.
Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class who committed to Michigan over several other major programs, started as a true freshman under former coach Sherrone Moore. But when new head coach Kyle Whittingham appeared on The Triple Option podcast with Urban Meyer this week, he revealed that the arrangement for Underwood’s development last season lacked a coach focused solely on refining his position.
“From what I understand, there was no dedicated quarterback coach working with him on a daily basis, which has to happen,” Whittingham told Meyer. Whittingham noted Underwood was still just 17 years old for much of the season and could have benefited from more consistent, position-specific instruction.
In recent years, most major college programs have applied greater focus and resources to quarterback development, often hiring veteran coaches specifically to work with signal callers. Analysts and fans alike were surprised by the revelation that Michigan, a program with national championship aspirations, did not provide that support for one of its most important players.
Underwood’s freshman season proved challenging at times. While he led the Wolverines with more than 2,400 passing yards and showed flashes of the talent that made him a top prospect, his mechanics and consistency drew scrutiny, and Michigan’s offense did not always maximize his skill set.
Whittingham said the coaching staff is addressing that this offseason by bringing in experienced quarterback mentors. New offensive coordinator Jason Beck and quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. are already working with Underwood to fine-tune fundamentals, including throwing mechanics and decision-making.
The move comes as Michigan seeks to build on a 9-3 record in Underwood’s first season and rebound after changes in the coaching staff. Whittingham, in his first year in Ann Arbor after a long coaching career at Utah, has emphasized what he calls a comprehensive approach to player development.
Fans and analysts are watching closely to see how the added coaching support translates on the field in 2026, with Underwood expected to be a key figure in Michigan’s hopes for a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff berth.
Officials at Michigan have not publicly commented beyond Whittingham’s podcast remarks about the staffing from last season. The new coaching configuration underscores a significant shift in how the Wolverines plan to nurture their young star’s talent going forward.
