‘No average freshman’: Why Michigan has already rallied behind Bryce Underwood

BELLEVILLE,Mich.—BeforeflippinghiscommitmentfromLSUtoMichigan,prizedquarterbackrecruitBryceUnderwoodhadaquestionforWolverinescoachSherroneMoore:Howlatecouldhestayinthefootballfacility? Mooretoldhim24/7—thenhehadtotakeitback. Thisspring,MooregotwordthatUnderwoodwasstillthrowingpassesat2a.m.ontheindoorpracticefield.Hehadtotosshimout. “Yougottasleep,”Mooretoldhim. Underwoodturned18onlytwoweeksago.Yetevenasateenager,he’salreadygivingtheNo.15WolverineshopetheycanreturntotheCollegeFootballPlayoffafteraone-yearhiatus. ThisSaturday,UnderwoodleadsMichiganintoatop-20clashatOklahoma(7:30p.m.ET,ABC).SoonerscoachBrentVenablescomparedUnderwoodtoformerClemsonstarTrevorLawrence,whoin2018becamethefirsttruefreshmanquarterbacktowinanationalchampionshipsinceOklahoma’sJamelleHoliewayin1985. In2021,LawrencealsobecametheNo.1pickintheNFLdraft. “Quick,decisive,accurate,poised,tough,c