‘That’s Not Him’ — Former LSU HC Brian Kelly Makes Feelings Crystal Clear on Scrutiny Around Michigan Star Bryce Underwood
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Michigan’s 13-12 victory over Western Michigan, which required a controversial Hail Mary with just one second remaining, has placed star quarterback Bryce Underwood under increased scrutiny.
However, former LSU head coach Brian Kelly is not convinced we should be writing Underwood off just yet, even if his place in Ann Arbor is under threat.
Brian Kelly Defends Bryce Underwood
Underwood entered Michigan with enormous expectations after being rated the No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. After initially committing to LSU, the highly-touted quarterback ultimately flipped his commitment to his hometown program, Michigan.
With Underwood arriving in Ann Arbor as one of the most highly regarded prospects in recent college football history, expectations from Michigan fans were understandably sky-high. However, he couldn’t make a decent enough impact in his first season, landing at No. 79 in PFN’s QB Impact rankings.
To kick off the season, the Wolverines barely avoided an upset loss in their season opener, while Underwood’s individual performance also raised questions about whether he is ready to meet those lofty expectations consistently.
However, during an interview with ‘SiriusXM,’ Kelly offered a different perspective on the scrutiny surrounding the Michigan star. Having personally recruited the quarterback during his time at LSU, Kelly said that he understands Underwood’s abilities and potential better than most.
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“Well, as you know, he committed to me at LSU,” Kelly said. “I’ve recruited him for two years, so I know him very well. He is an elite athlete, I mean, athletically, off the charts. I think I always felt like read progression, you know, in the pocket. Those are the areas that would have to be worked on.
“You’ve got to run this kid. He is big, physical, strong, and fast, and he’s tough. So, look, I’m not laying the blame anywhere, but I know this. I know his skill set, and to sit back in the pocket and go through progression reads, that’s not him.”
Underwood finished the season opener, completing 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards, along with one touchdown and one interception. His perfectly thrown Hail Mary touchdown pass to JJ Buchanan ultimately saved Michigan from an embarrassing defeat.
Still, considering the quarterback reportedly received a $12 million NIL package to begin his Michigan career, the overall performance was underwhelming at best.
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Following that showing, Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham appeared non-committal about Underwood’s long-term security as the team’s starting quarterback. When asked whether Underwood’s position as the starter was secure, Whittingham said the young quarterback was the starter “right now,” while implying that the situation could be reevaluated based on future performances.
This week, Michigan will host Oklahoma, and the Wolverines are expected to run with Underwood as their starting quarterback.
A strong showing in Michigan’s second game could go a long way toward quieting the early concerns surrounding his performance and reaffirming why he entered the program with such enormous expectations.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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