Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham gets brutally honest regarding QB Bryce Underwood's ceiling

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May 6, 2026 - 20:42

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Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham gets brutally honest regarding QB Bryce Underwood's ceiling originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Michigan Wolverines are entering a new era with new coach Kyle Whittingham leading the charge. Whittingham said recently that he recognizes how much work needs to be done to fix the program's image. But, when it comes to strictly on-field performance, it starts and ends offensively with quarterback Bryce Underwood.

Underwood, who enters his sophomore season in Ann Arbor this fall, has earned the respect of his new coach despite the pressure that mounted under him coming out of high school.

"Well, first of all, Bryce was thrown into a pretty tough situation last fall," Whittingham told Jake Butt via "The Blueprint" podcast. "True freshman, 18 years old, starting quarterback at not only a P4 program, but Michigan. I mean, you're under the spotlight."

And under the spotlight, he was indeed tossing 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions. The Wolverines went 9-4 amid off-field controversy over the firing of ex-coach Sherrone Moore. Of course, Underwood had nothing to do with it.

Transitioning to the present, Whittingham said he feels confident he can address Underwood's inconsistencies over the past year.

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"Also, didn't have a dedicated quarterback coach last year, from what I was told," Whittingham said. "And so he was a little rough around the edges, still is a little bit, but we had -- you talk about spring ball, but long before that, January, February, we're in the film room and talking him through mechanics and footwork and read progressions and all that -- continued through spring. He has made progress, still got a long ways to go, but he's on the right path."

Whittingham said there is one trait that sets Underwood apart: leadership.

"And one thing about Bryce, he's got a great work ethic, and there's no worry about him putting in the time he's going to put in all the time he needs," Whittingham said. "And he's completely dedicated to his craft. And so we're still finding out, we've got a really good, much better, clearer picture through spring ball, what he does well, what suits him, what aspects of the offense are strong suits, and we'll start to gravitate towards that as we move closer to the season."

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In a few short months, we will find out how accurate Whittingham's assessment of Underwood proves to be.