Michigan Ready to Reload with Bryce Underwood originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Last year, Michigan struggled at times in its first season in a decade without Jim Harbaugh at the helm. There was inconsistent quarterback play and blowout losses at the Big House over the course of an 8-5 season, an underwhelming follow-up to a 15-0 national championship campaign.
Advertisement
But in coach Sherrone Moore’s first full season in charge in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines ended the year on a three-game winning streak that included victories over archrival Ohio State and Alabama in the Reliaquest Bowl to build some momentum heading into 2025. And though Michigan lost a good deal of talent from that team to the NFL, Moore signed the No. 6 recruiting class in the country. That group is headlined by top-ranked quarterback Bryce Underwood, who’s expected to contend for the starting job as a true freshman.
“It’s tempting to look at these rosters after the national title and define them by what they lose to the draft every year, but we don’t do that with [Kirby] Smart or [Nick] Saban or those programs,” an anonymous Big Ten assistant coach said in Athlon Sports’ 2025 College Football Preview magazine. “Michigan is an elite-level recruiting program. So yeah, they lost a Mason Graham, but they’re ready to plug in that next guy. It’s not plug and play, but it’s close.”
These comments were made in the Wolverines’ exclusive scouting report in Athlon’s annual magazine, which is available for purchase online and at newsstands nationwide.
Bryce Underwood is the first No. 1 overall recruit to sign with Michigan since Rashan Gary in 2016.Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Graham, a dominant defensive tackle, is one of three first-rounders Michigan lost, along with fellow defensive lineman Kenneth Grant and tight end Colston Loveland. That NFL exodus followed a 2024 draft that saw title-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy selected 10th overall.
Advertisement
The Wolverines were unable to replace McCarthy’s efficient play under center last season, cycling through Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji. The quarterback room combined to throw more interceptions (13) than touchdown passes (11), and Michigan finished with the fewest passing yards (1,678) of any Power 4 program.
Those concerns might be alleviated with Underwood on campus, along with Mikey Keene, a transfer from Fresno State with 33 career starts.
“They would’ve been a serious postseason contender last year if they had a quarterback on the roster,” the Big Ten coach said. “Now they do, so it’s all about how fast [offensive coordinator Chip] Lindsey can get him up to speed and going.”
Sherrone Moore went 8-5 in his first full season as Michigan’s head coach.Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Michigan’s season opener is Aug. 30 against New Mexico before hitting the road to take on a much-improved Oklahoma team. Overall, the Wolverines’ schedule is forgiving, but Norman will be a tough environment for a true freshman so early in the schedule. That’s why the infrastructure around Underwood is so important.
Advertisement
“The focus is on [Bryce] Underwood, but it should be on finding new backs to go with him,” the anonymous assistant said. “They’re not going to change that [Jim] Harbaugh identity all that much, and the ground game is how they define themselves.”
After losing Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards to the NFL, Michigan added three running backs in the transfer portal: Justice Haynes (Alabama), CJ Hester (UMass) and John Volker (Princeton). Haynes, who made the most of limited opportunities with the Crimson Tide, could be a difference maker in the backfield alongside either Underwood or Keene.
Given the backfield upgrades, the Wolverines’ offense should be more dynamic as they look to reassert themselves as a contender in the Big Ten and beyond.
Related: Big Ten Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2025
Related: College Football Rankings: Projecting the Top 25 Teams for 2025
Related: Big Ten Football: Predicting the Best Game Every Week in the 2025 Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
