Michigan football's Bryce Underwood on future: 'We'll figure that out'
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WINTER GARDEN, FL − It was this exact day last year when the world got its first glimpse of Bryce Underwood in a Michigan football uniform as he prepared for the ReliaQuest Bowl.
This time around, the five-star freshman quarterback met with media as the face of the team. He discussed a tumultuous time in the program, previewed the upcoming Citrus Bowl game and fielded questions about his future with the program.
Michigan hired longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to be its next coach on Friday, Dec. 26 and will formally introduce him in a hotel ballroom in Orlando on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Roster turnover is a known quantity in regime changes and that leads to one of the most pertinent questions on the minds of many fans: Will Underwood stay in Ann Arbor next year?
“Right now we’re about to play this bowl game, so that’s really the main thought in my head,” Underwood said. “After Dec. 31, we’ll figure that out. My family (will factor in that decision).”
Underwood said the style of offense Whittingham runs as well as who is brought in as his offensive coordinator will of course be taken into account. A person with knowledge of Underwood’s internal discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t at liberty to discuss the matter said “it’s not like he’s looking to leave Michigan.” That was after former coach Moore was fired but before Whittingham was brought in.
Underwood and the team had not yet met their new coach, but were scheduled to do so Saturday evening. Three players who spoke with media before practice, including running back Bryson Kuzdzal and linebacker Cole Sullivan, all echoed similar sentiments. They weren’t terribly familiar with him but naturally have started looking into him since his hire was announced.
Underwood went on Instagram and shared U-M’s post announcing Whittingham as the new leader to his story and Saturday said he looked forward to getting to hear more about who he is and his vision for the program.
“I don’t really know too much about him,” Underwood said. “I’m just excited to figure out what kind of guy he is.
“I [saw] his resume a little earlier today … just really excited to see what he does for the University of Michigan.”
Underwood was asked if his age, 66, mattered at all and said no.
Underwood threw for 2,229 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions during the first year of his college career and added 74 rushes for 323 yards and five touchdowns. Underwood said the mood of the team is “excitement” to get back on the field together as a group and try to play for a 10th win as a team.
He said they’ve been focused on their “brotherhood” in light of Moore’s firing.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bryce Underwood on Michigan football future: ‘We’ll figure that out’
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