Former Michigan QB likens Bryce Underwood to Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields

Former Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle knows that Bryce Underwood has yet to throw an official pass for the Wolverines. But that didn’t stop Tuttle from comparing Underwood to a few of the best college quarterbacks in recent history before that first official pass is even thrown.

Underwood was 1 of the top prizes of the 2025 recruiting cycle and is 1 of the biggest recruits in Michigan football history, so the expectations surrounding his arrival are beyond enormous.

To add to the hype, Underwood is a Detroit native who starred in high school in Belleville, so he’s as local as it gets. He won’t even turn 18 years old until later in fall camp on Aug. 19, and there is the reality that Underwood will have to earn the Michigan starting quarterback job in fall camp.

If Underwood does get the nod when Michigan opens the 2025 season against New Mexico, all eyes will be on him, and Tuttle believes Underwood is ready for the big-time spotlight. Tuttle has a fresh perspective now as a 26-year-old who spent 2 years in the Michigan program from 2023-2024.

Tuttle spent this past offseason as the Wolverines’ assistant wide receivers coach and is now part of the sports media. Earlier this week, he joined the Locked on Wolverines podcast to share some of his takeaways on Underwood’s game.

Tuttle knows a little something about former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who just happened to lead the Tigers to a national championship as a freshman in 2018. And Tuttle sees the potential for great things for Underwood at Michigan, comparing him to Lawrence and former Ohio State star quarterback Justin Fields.

“I would say it’s hard to measure that right now, because the sky’s the limit for that kid,” Tuttle said of Underwood.

“When I saw him for the first time — I think it was January, February — throw the ball … I’ve seen quite a few QBs throw the ball. I’ve seen Trevor Lawrence — I was at The Opening like 50 years ago with him and Justin Fields. I’ve seen all those guys … that was my class. I’ve seen a lot of good football throwers, and I’ve been with Mike Penix at Indiana, obviously JJ McCarthy here at Michigan.

“And I would say Bryce is at the top with the best of them and probably throws it better than a lot of those guys — which is scary to say, to be honest, because he’s so young.”

The clock is stuck now on Underwood, and there’s still a starting job to win in fall camp. But Tuttle believes in Underwood, and Ann Arbor is bracing for his breakout in 2025.