Sherrone Moore Breaks Silence on Bryce Underwood’s Michigan Future as Kirk Herbstreit’s Son Opens More Avenues to Explore for HC

Alright, let’s cut the fluff. Michigan ain’t just playing musical chairs at quarterback; they’re throwing a whole block party. What started as a shaky season in 2024 turned into a wild redemption arc, ending with a five-game win streak, an Ohio State dub, and an 8-5 record without even having a true QB1. Now? Oh, it’s a good problem to have. Sherrone Moore pulled off the heist of the year, snatching Bryce Underwood from LSU for a cool $12 million, then doubled down with Mikey Keene from Fresno State — an 8,000-yard QB with real game experience. Add Jaden Davis and, oh yeah, Chase Herbstreit, the son of Ohio State’s golden boy Kirk Herbstreit, and you got yourself a full-blown QB circus.

So, who’s getting the keys to the Michigan offense in 2025? Sherrone Moore finally broke his silence on March 5, live on Crain & Company, setting the record straight on how this battle’s gonna go down. “Yeah, I mean, so you’ve got Mikey, you got Bryce, you got Jaden Davis. And Jaden Davis is no slouch either. He’s a kid that was — came in highly talented, super competitive. Love his spirit, love his ability.” Sherrone Moore then doubled down on criteria for the QB1 job at Ann Arbor: “But the process is going to be pretty simple: who completes the most passes, who’s the best leader, um, who can help the team win the most. And, uh, those things can sometimes be answered in the spring, those things can be, you know, pushed out throughout the summer through workouts.” Translation: No promises, no handouts — just straight-up competition.

And just when you thought the QB situation low-key already maxed out, Michigan threw another wrench into the mix — Chase Herbstreit. Sherrone Moore gave love to Chase Herbstreit by putting him in the QB1 mix: “So, you know, right now we got those three guys that are really in the thick of the battle. And then, you know, we bring in high school — uh, another high school player, Chase Herbstreit, in the summer. And we’ll probably have another guy here.” 

Now, to be clear, Chase ain’t stepping in as QB1. But his presence in the locker room is interesting. “Yeah, Chase is a guy we’ve had on our (radar) for a while, and had a really good career at St. X.” The Wolverine HC Moore said back in December. “Obviously, I know Kirk pretty well, but it more had to do with Chase and his abilities and what he can do to help us as a team down the line in the future. So, just been… a relationship we’ve developed with him and feel like he’ll help us in some way on the team.” Sure, Coach, but let’s be real: having Herbstreit’s son in Ann Arbor adds a whole new level of spice to the rivalry. It’s the kind of move that fuels the fire, and let’s be honest, Michigan is loving every second of it.

Sherrone Moore and Michigan sabotaging Bryce Underwood by putting him as QB1?

Bryce Underwood’s contract ain’t just breaking the bank — it’s setting expectations sky-high. And while that’s great for business, it might not be the best move for his development. CBS Sports’ Josh Pate weighed in, saying, “He doesn’t have to start. Mikey Keene’s there, he’s played plenty of games at UCF, at Fresno. He’s a veteran. The floor is high with him, but the ceiling? That’s Bryce Underwood.”

Translation? Michigan’s got a golden ticket, but rushing it could backfire. Just look at Dylan Raiola — Patrick Mahomes’ clone was low-key hyped up, thrown in early, and suddenly, all his flaws got exposed. You don’t want to microwave greatness. You slow cook it. And that’s where the real dilemma lies. Does Moore throw Bryce into the fire from day one? Or does he let Keene hold the fort while Underwood marinates into a monster?

Look, you don’t drop a bag like that unless you expect results. Bryce ain’t walking into an empty QB room. Mikey Keene’s been there, done that. This man has been slinging dimes for years, first at UCF, then at Fresno, putting up nearly 3,000 yards a season. Experience? Check. Poise? Double check. He’s the type of guy who won’t flinch when the heat’s on.

Bryce, on the flip side, is the highest-ranked recruit Michigan’s landed in half a decade. The hype is real. He led Belleville to a 10-2 record as a senior, and when he’s locked in, defenses don’t stand a chance. But here’s the thing — being a five-star QB in high school and being the guy in college? Two different ballgames. And let’s not forget the Wolverine in the room: $12 million doesn’t buy patience. Fans, boosters, even his own teammates — everyone’s watching, waiting, expecting him to shine now.

If you’re Sherrone Moore, this is the chess match of your life. Play Bryce early, and he could light up the Big Ten — or crumble under the weight of expectations. Roll with Mikey Keene, and you get a safe, steady hand — but also risk frustrating your $12 million golden boy. And Jaden Davis? He ain’t just here to watch, though.

The answer? Moore’s playing the long game. “You don’t get to toss him in the microwave just because you paid a lot of money for him,” Pate said. And he’s right. Bryce is the future, but at present, he’s still up for grabs. And no matter who starts, one thing’s for sure: Michigan’s QB battle is about to be must-watch TV.