Bryce Underwood thought he was walking into a dream. The golden boy of Belleville, the anointed one, the five-star phenom Michigan fans had been waiting for. But reality hits hard, and sometimes it hits before you even take a snap as Michigan fumbles big time in the portal. While change is part of the game, this is a whole different ballgame for Underwood. He’s not just walking onto any field; he’s stepping into a pressure cooker. The competition is ruthless, the expectations are through the roof after that $10 million flip, and Michigan’s portal woes might just make his life a whole lot tougher.

On February 2nd, Underwood posted a cryptic IG story: a mirror selfie with Belleville helmets in the background and Michigan portraits on the wall. The caption? “Dammmm, came back to my dukes crib, no mo Belleville games, nomo 7on7, shii ovaaa.” If that ain’t a raw coming-of-age moment, we don’t know what is. The kid just realized—high school glory days are over. Now, it’s big-boy football. And Michigan? Well, they just fumbled hard in the transfer portal, leaving their prize recruit staring at a shaky future.

Bryce Underwood was HIM in high school. The one who took Belleville High to back-to-back state titles and stacked up stats like he was playing Madden in rookie mode. His commitment flip from LSU to Michigan in November was the spark Wolverine fans needed. “Hometown Hero,” he called himself after that flip. But even heroes need a pretty strong foundation—and Michigan’s O-line just took a hit they didn’t see coming.

Standing at 6’4″, 214 pounds, Bryce Underwood’s literally built like an NFL linebacker. And the scouting reports aren’t shy about his skill set. “Underwood has elite size, but unlike some of the guys he’s being compared to, he’s advanced as a passer,” per College Sports Network’s Will Helms.

The Michigan native’s got 6th sense in the pocket, a natural feel for the game, and an arm that can drop dimes all over the field. But as he prepares to step onto the biggest stage of his life, Michigan’s ability to protect him just took a serious hit.

Michigan Wolverines lose two offensive line targets in the portal

When Notre Dame offensive linemen Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler hit the transfer portal, it felt like Michigan was in prime position to land at least one of them. Coogan, a 13-game starter at center, was a rock for the Fighting Irish in 2024. Spindler, a former 4-star recruit, had been a key piece of their interior line. Both had experience. Both had Big Ten potential. And both just left Michigan and NIL bags on read.

Spindler took his talents to Nebraska. Coogan? He’s suiting up for Curt ‘Google Me’ Cignetti’s Indiana. And Michigan? They’re left scrambling, watching two of their biggest O-line targets slip away like a bad Wi-Fi connection. Sure, they pulled in Brady Norton from Cal Poly and Lawrence Hattar from Ferris State, but let’s be real—there’s a big difference between landing guys from Notre Dame versus snatching up linemen from mid-major programs.

Pat Coogan was a crucial piece in Notre Dame’s offensive line in their natty run, playing 747 snaps in 2024 while allowing just 1 sack. Indiana just got a lineman who can be trusted in their run game. Meanwhile, Rocco Spindler, a 325-pound mauler, played 402 pass snaps without allowing a single sack last season. Nebraska isn’t playing around—they locked in a veteran who’s battle-tested and ready to plug into the trenches.

For Michigan, losing out on both feels like a liver shot. The Wolverines worked hard to get them on campus, but the efforts just didn’t translate into commitments. So, where does that leave Bryce Underwood? The kid is stepping into a program that, just weeks ago, felt like it had momentum and a comeback. Now, the O-line looks shaky, and the transfer portal hasn’t exactly been kind.

Michigan still has some returning talent—Evan Link, Greg Crippen, and Giovanni El-Hadi—but depth is a question mark, big time. They might have to wait until the spring portal window to patch up and fill those gaps. But by then, will the top talent even be available? Only spring will tell.

Bryce Underwood’s IG story wasn’t just about nostalgia—it was a realization. The glitz, the hype, the five-star status—it’s all cool until reality sets in. Hometown hero? Yeah. But heroes need an army, and right now, Michigan’s trenches are low-key looking real thin.