Here’s what Bryce Underwood’s commitment means for Michigan football

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The future is bright in Ann Arbor as quarterback Bryce Underwood, the nation’s top recruit, has flipped his commitment from the LSU Tigers to the Michigan Wolverines.

The old saying goes, “The best players in Michigan stay in Michigan,” the signal caller turned hometown hero announced his decision on his Instagram Thursday (Nov. 21) night.

The consensus No. 1 player in the 2025 class and the No. 1 quarterback out of Belleville High School had been committed to the Tigers since January 2024.

Reports indicated that the Wolverines gave their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) pitch back in the spring.

Both sides were on their own journeys. The men in maize were still celebrating their first national championship since 1998 while Underwood was preparing for his senior season.

Underwood, the first No. 1 recruit to commit to Michigan since the 2016 class, where defensive end Rashan Gary did so, was thinking about winning another state championship.

The 6′3“, 205-pound dual-threat quarterback led Belleville to a 10-2 record with 2,095 yards passing, 29 touchdowns, and three interceptions while also toting the rock for 489 yards and one touchdown.

The Wolverines showed signs of hope to kick off the season but have since fallen to 5-5.

Much blame is placed on the quarterback position as Davis Warren, Alex Orji, and Jack Tuttle struggled to move the ball down the field, which led everyone to Thursday evening.

Before Underwood’s announcement, it was said that he was with the Wolverines this week during practice ahead of the George Jewett Trophy game against the Northwestern Wildcats.

Now, when a player of his caliber joins the reigning, defending national champions, other star recruits almost all but surely follow suit.

Prior to his commitment, high school teammate and four-star athlete Elijah Dotson joined the Wolverines on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, which got the city of Ann Arbor buzzing.

Both men were on the radar of the Wolverines faithful as the Hailgate Tailgate, a massive fan-organized group of Wolverines who tailgate around the Big House on gamedays, ascended to Belleville on Nov. 8 in a show of support for the “Keep Bryce Underwood and Elijah Dotson Home” campaign.

Joining the two Belleville flips could be Tigers commit wide receiver Derek Meadows.

The 6′6″, 205-pound wideout is the No. 1 ranked prospect in Nevada and a top 10 wide receiver in the class of 2025.

He, too, visited The Big House on Nov. 2, but all signs pointed to him flipping if Underwood flipped first.

Also, the Colorado Buffaloes commit cornerback Alex Graham, Duke Blue Devils linebacker Bradley Gompers, and four-star Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, who are all expected to flip to Michigan, but it is all speculation right now.

Now that Underwood has joined the Wolverines, he can enroll early and start participating in spring practices if he signs in December.

This is especially true if Michigan wins against the Wildcats on Nov. 23, as they’ll be eligible for a bowl game.