Bryce Underwood, Mikey Keene will battle for Michigan starting QB job
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2025, was largely expected to take the reins upon his campus arrival. Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore said Thursday that Underwood isn't locked into starting duties just yet.
"He is not the starter now," Moore said. "It's an open competition."
Moore brought in quarterback Mikey Keene from Fresno State to compete for the job, too. Keene threw for more than 2,800 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with the Bulldogs last year. The season before, he threw for more than 2,900 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 picks. But Keene missed the spring because of injury and will make his team debut when Michigan's fall camp begins next week.
Whoever wins the Michigan quarterback job will work with new Wolverines offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who was hired from North Carolina. Lindsey helped mold Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye into the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
As for Underwood, the odds are still strong that he ends up the starter. The question is whether it's by the time Michigan visits Norman in Week 2 or not.
"(Underwood's) been with us since December, continues to do everything he can to be, one, the best teammate he could be, two, to be the best student he could be, and then three, to be the best football player that he could be, a quarterback that he could be for our football team," Moore said.
Michigan's road trip to Norman will be one of the biggest matchups of the year and will set the tone for both teams. Will the Wolverines go with the veteran Keene or the true freshman Underwood for a pivotal road start?
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