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Bryce Underwood caps Michigan spring game with trick play touchdown
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Bryce Underwood hit Michigan tight end Jalen Hoffman for an 88-yard touchdown Saturday afternoon to cap the Wolverines’ annual spring game and give the Blue team a 17-0 win.
It was an electric play — a double-reverse on the final play of the day — and a fitting end to Underwood’s Michigan debut. The Belleville native was the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2025 and his commitment to Michigan was a massive get for coach Sherrone Moore. The optimism for his debut season is through the roof, and fans were eager to see his unofficial debut inside the Big House.
By most accounts, Underwood’s play was uneven, but not too shocking for a 17-year-old in such a setting.
According to MLive’s Aaron McMann, Underwood completed 12 of his 26 pass attempts for 187 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He fumbled a snap under center and was on the hook for 2 delay of game penalties called against the Blue offense.
With Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene injured, Underwood took every snap for the Blue team while Jadyn Davis played every snap for the Maize team.
Michigan’s spring game was not televised. Those who were on hand for the game came to a consensus that while Underwood flashed his promise, he also showed some of the raw aspects of his game.
Here’s what McMann wrote for MLive:
But Underwood, listed at 6-foot-4 and 208 pounds, struggled to connect deep for most of the day. He sailed some passes and lost communication with his targets at times, throwing an interception to transfer defensive back Tevis Metcalf in the second quarter.
Trent Knoop wrote this on Underwood’s day for SI:
Underwood missed on a few deep shots when he did have a guy open. He clearly needs more time with his playmakers to get into rhythm throwing them the ball.
Underwood likely didn’t have his starting line blocking for him, nor did he have his starting playmakers around him. There might be some growing pains with Underwood, but there were also flashes of potential that were on display on Saturday.
Underwood is expected to lead the Wolverines into 2025, but an announcement from Michigan won’t come until the season officially draws near. Moore told On3’s J.D. PicKell before the spring game that his expectation is to name a starter a week before Michigan’s first game.
The Wolverines open their season at home against New Mexico on Aug. 30. They travel to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the Sooners a week later.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.