The Michigan Wolverines were yearning for a messiah figure to lead them back to where they belong. They identified no.1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood to fit that bill, and boy, did they make sure the yearning was reciprocated. Upwards of $10 million in NIL money later, Sherrone Moore has his QB1. Underwood’s arrival is akin to a transcendent being descending upon Ann Arbor to lift the vibes in and around the program.

It takes one to know one. The lineage of No.1 recruits stepping into college football remains strong. Bryce Underwood, as the latest successor to this proverbial throne, has paid heed to a predecessor. A few years ago, before the clamour of his Heisman triumph, Travis Hunter sat on that pedestal. Could you imagine if these two talents ever played together? Bryce dealing dimes over the top to Travis? You’re not the only one frothing at the mouth over that prospect.

Football player/YouTuber Donald De La Haye, a.k.a Deestroyer, has released an interview with Bryce Underwood over on his “Kickin it with Dee” channel. During the conversation, “Dee” brought up how he recognized Travis Hunter’s potential from the outset. He asked Underwood about a hypothetical scenario of the duo teaming up in the future. “That’ll be fire, literally. That’ll be hard,” said Underwood. “I watched Travis when I was, like, a freshman. 8th grade and stuff like that. So that’d be hard.”

Bryce was all praise for Travis. He even gave his first-hand experience of seeing Travis go about his business in the flesh.“I ain’t played against him, but I’ve seen him play…way better in person than what it looks like on camera,” said Underwood. Alas, this hypothetical will remain exactly that for the time being. However, it’s not impossible for fans to be treated to this tandem going forward.

Travis Hunter is unequivocally going to be a top 5 draft pick, very conservatively. Franchises that have high picks usually have a multitude of issues. It’s in the realm of possibilities that whichever team drafts Travis has a void at quarterback in a couple of years time. That’s where Bryce Underwood perhaps steps in. However, that is as far-sighted as it is unlikely. For now, Underwood will be focused on making a smooth rise up a rung of the football ladder into college.

Bryce Underwood hit with a reality check about ascending over to CFB

Michigan’s issues under centre this season are well-documented. First-year HC Sherrone Moore deployed 3 different quarterbacks to fill their JJ-McCarthy-shaped void. You’d think they’ve resolved this personnel issue with Bryce Underwood. However, throwing him straight into the deep end isn’t particularly wise. The transfer portal presents a means to bridge the gap with some know-how while Underwood learns the ropes. Michigan has done just that.

Sherrone Moore has acquired Mikey Keene’s services via the portal. The veteran has traversed two different programs already and thrown for a cumulative 8,245 yards and 65 TDs through the air in his collegiate career. The general belief in and around Ann Arbor is that Keene will, at least initially, be QB1 for 2025. The Wolverines are trying to build out their O-line in the meantime in order to prepare for Bryce.

It isn’t a foregone conclusion that Bryce will deputise behind Keene in his freshman year. With the hardship they had to overcome to land him, it seemed like Michigan was placing all their eggs in the Underwood basket. However it seems like conventional wisdom has prevailed. Either way, it’s merely a matter of when, not if, before Bryce is throwing dots at the Big House. He hopes a potential redshirt year will be a step in the right direction for his success at the high school level to translate into college and further on into the NFL. That prospect of lining up with Travis Hunter beckons, after all.