Bryce Underwood to decide Saturday
Not looking good for us unfortunately. Hope he decided to stay home and choses the good guys!
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:28 PM ^
He's probably going to LSU. A bummer, but we will survive. The past three seasons have made it clear we have a formula to win at the highest levels with an efficient, run-first offense.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
I mean, it's been pretty helpful to have an egoless magician under center, too
January 3rd, 2024 at 8:22 PM ^
How does going after money equal having an ego? That’s extremely shallow and you’re missing the bigger picture. If Jim Harbaugh is interested in the player, that must mean he’d probably fit in pretty nicely. And how do you know that JJ wouldn’t have taken money if NIL was around?
Michigan should be able to get the guys they want, whether or not they want money. People confuse players wanting money as players Michigan doesn’t want. False. Michigan just refuses to pay anyone money. THAT’s the problem. This isn’t on players.
January 4th, 2024 at 10:50 PM ^
I wasn't even thinking about the money. (By most reports JJ is well compensated anyway.) What makes JJ the perfect for for this program, and what may well define the culture off this team, is in less than a month's time, he went from a *Heisman favorite* to handing the ball off for an entire half in a marqee top ten matchup and was genuinely happy to do it if it helped the team win. Ask yourself how many top end college QBs would react that way, particularly in a draft eligible year. THAT'S why he'll be hard to replace at Michigan.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:59 PM ^
Alternative take: the past 3 seasons demonstrate how important it is to have a playmaking QB.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:10 PM ^
I'll discount 2021 cause we just didn't have the depth on the dline to contend with Georgia and even though JJ made that Georgia defense earn it in the 4th qtr, he was still under heavy pressure and we weren't winning that game if JJ were healthy and ready to go 100% as an experienced qb.
But to the point of needing a qb that can make the big time plays and throws when needed, yes! You need that guy. Also need that guy who understands the need to let the offensive line and run game carry the team too. Same with receivers. Yeah, you need to have a little more pass in the run/pass balance for the top qb's. But still need that guy that has more leadership than ego. Need the alpha that is a leader in a good way, not the selfish way.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:38 PM ^
Georgia probably also called the dogs off (no pun intended) in the fourth quarter and Smart had his third stringers / freshmen playing at that point.
McCarthy was also a freshman himself so that should be accounted for, but I think McCarthy making some things happen was also a product of Georgia already knowing the game was over.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:38 PM ^
I think we have a pretty good one coming in. He is FL player of the year:
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:50 PM ^
JJ was a 5-star.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:23 PM ^
He can go get paid at LSU and when he gets tired of Brian Kelly he can transfer back home
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:37 PM ^
Like Dante?
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:14 PM ^
Say hello to BK Bryce......well, bye
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:29 PM ^
You know it's all about cash when you still go to LSU who just lost their OC and literally just fired the entire defensive staff.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:47 PM ^
They have had two Heisman QBs and their 2025 class is likely to be loaded with stud WRs. It is more than just money.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:50 PM ^
Yeah and the QB coach (his primary recruiter) is still there. I'm sure NIL played a role, but it's not like they gutted their offensive staff.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:52 PM ^
No different than sales recruiting is about relationships too. I haven't heard a single peep from Michigan in months as it relates to Bryce Underwood's recruitment(edit:I do remember him being at half of the OSU game so maybe I'm off here). Fans just blame the bagman as is if NIL is still illegal. Michigan admin still has our fan base brainwashed into believing NIL is a bad thing.
I know we are about to play for a natty but we have several top 100 recruits on our current squad that are extremely important to us winning. Under our current way of doing things we are no longer recruiting/landing top 100 recruits so I hope we are able to stay competitive. I trust Harbaugh but if he goes does anyone believe we can win without top 100 talent?
I've never seen a team win like Michigan and not see any recruiting bump rather we've had some regression at least with the top guys which appears to be the norm moving forward. I am holding out hope after we win it all we will see some degree of increase in top talent.
Edit: I'm not all doom & gloom just more concerned because I know much less than y'all...I do believe we can win championships with Jadyn Davis.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:24 PM ^
Yeah I mean...Michigan's offense isn't exactly attractive to top end QBs and WRs who went to be in a passing offense. It is what it is. It's gonna sting some when JJ and Roman are gone
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:54 PM ^
Sometimes its not all about money and this is a case where I dont think it is. LSU just had the Heisman winner and an electric passing offense. Michigan does not have that
January 3rd, 2024 at 8:08 PM ^
Jayden Daniels is looking like he will be QB3 drafted by the NFL. Some mocks now have him at QB2. JJ is not. Daniels was allowed to run this year to showcase his skill set. JJ mostly was not. Daniels plays in a freaking fun offense for a QB - with video game talent at WR. JJ does not. Oh and a Heisman. When was Michigan's last Heisman QB?
There is no guarantee UM is winning NC next year or next 10 years. LSU lost 3 whole games - how devastating. Daniels is also going to make life changing money for his family next year. He would not here. He might in year 3 - but he would have to prove himself. At LSU he doesn't - he gets that upfront. I don't get people's density about this - think about this like a 18 year old.
OH and he won't need to go to school much and the women down there are outrageous, Think like an 18 year old. Did i mention the cash?
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:31 PM ^
The only suspense will be finding out who gave him the most cash as that is where he is going. Good luck to him with that choice
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:34 PM ^
I mean he has an entire year to get to know the new OC. It’s not like he’s arriving on campus next week and has a brand new OC or anything.
January 3rd, 2024 at 6:41 PM ^
1) we live in a mostly successful capitalistic society, he SHOULD choose based on money
2) but maybe not the money you mean - going to LSU could mean being a significantly better shot at being a top 5 pick. Even if college money was the same between Michigan and LSU, potential NFL money would likely differ.
I should say I have no problem with how our team's offense works. But JJ would probably be top 10 pick if he played at gun slinging school.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:30 PM ^
Enjoy your summer in Louisianna, then Florida, then California...
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:30 PM ^
It is weird we can't get one of these local kids to stay home but things are going too good to complain.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^
sometimes kids just wanna leave. i'm from northville, and in addition to the standard umich, msu, cmu, gvsu etc we had some kids go to bama and uga just to play school
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:46 PM ^
From what I understand it's a lot easier to get into school out of state than in. $$ of course.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:58 PM ^
I thought it was the opposite? the in-state acceptance rate is higher at UM. 39% vs 18% per google
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^
I don’t know the Admissions info for LSU - but, for Michigan - I guarantee you, the in state acceptance rate is much higher than for out of state applicants.
The LSU acceptance rate is listed as 76%, Michigan’s is 18%. This data according to USNWR.
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:52 PM ^
No issue with a guy like Damon Payne from Belleville choosing Bama as his school over UM. Also no issue with schadenfreude as he walked off the field on Monday with a loss to UM.
Underwood would be a great add, but the UM offense should be fine with Davis, Smith or another QB.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:35 PM ^
Unfortunately at least for Dante and Bryce is that they come from the PAL circuit which rivals AAU when it comes to shady and nefarious fellas. There are a lot of (as we call it in the Metro Detroit coaching ranks) “PAL Pimps” that are in the corner of these high level recruits and the bag first and foremost is what matters most.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:51 PM ^
Associating a largely Black population with "pimps" is so gross.
January 3rd, 2024 at 5:47 PM ^
(Checks our family Christmas photo)
Hmmm…might be barking up the wrong tree here buddy.
January 3rd, 2024 at 10:09 PM ^
Just shut tf up.
This is a sports blog.
*responding to mackbru*
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:51 PM ^
See, that's what irritates me. You think a recruit like this would dip out to another school if they were in California, or Ohio, or Alabama, or Georgia? Yet we seem to struggled holding onto top recruits in our own backyard, even going back to 2008 with Mark Ingram who Bama pulled out of our backyard. Granted, we weren't nearly on the same level back then, but the point still stands I think.
The fact that our state rarely produces the level and quantity of talent as others, and it seems that we still often manage to lose out on the cream of the crop irritates me more than it probably should lol.
At least we'll be switching to a 12 team playoff model so there won't be as much pressure to go undefeated.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:44 PM ^
Uhhh yea. Take a look at many of the top recruits in each of those states that have left. Najee Harris left California to go to Alabama. So did Brock Bowers. In 2024, not a single top 10 California player is committed to a California school (I'm using Rivals because they don't constantly ask me to turn off my AdBlock). Several of the Top 10 players in Florida in 2024 are leaving the state. Same is true for Texas. Same is true for Ohio. Oh, and by the way, we pulled one of the top players in Ohio.
Of the top 10 players in Georgia, only one is signed to Georgia. 4 are signed to Alabama from Alabama.
Recruiting is national. I don't care where they come from. Blake is from Maryland. JJ is from Illinois. Mason Graham is from California.
January 3rd, 2024 at 3:37 PM ^
I recommend you look at the top recruits in those states the last few years. Quite a few of them leave the state.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:31 PM ^
I'm gonna say Bama wins out
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:33 PM ^
Nothing to see here
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^
It would be great if he came to Michigan but I think Davis is going to be a star. At this point we've seen the value of guys who really want to be here
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^
Regardless of what happens, remember we have likely top 100 QB Carter Smith in the 2025 class who just won Florida Gatorade PoY as a junior. Dude is a baller and committed during the midst of the sign stealing drama. He wants to be here
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:00 PM ^
Have you seen the blocks he throws?! Kid ain’t scared!
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:15 PM ^
He's a pure athlete. Fast, built well, not afraid of contact. He needs to refine his throwing mechanics, but the raw arm talent is there
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
He is a pitcher too from what I remember so will have good arm strength
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:03 PM ^
I don't even remember this kid committing to us. I must have missed it. Although his composite displays he is a 3 star - where are you getting that he is top 100? Or is he due a ratings bump?
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:15 PM ^
His composite on 247 is a 4-star, top 150 player, but much lower to 247 itself, at least as I read the site. As others said, he just one Gatorade Player of the Year for Florida, as a junior, so it’s likely 247 is a bit behind on him. I think top-100 is a legit possibility. He’s definitely a riser.
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:18 PM ^
He committed in mid November after visiting for the Purdue game. 247 currently has him as borderline 3*, but On3 recently bumped him to the #111 player in the country and Rivals recently bumped him to the #55 player. So I'd assume 247 will follow suit soon
January 3rd, 2024 at 2:40 PM ^
Spent some time with him on his visit. He was with my son's good friend - a former Purdue player and now one of Carter's Bishop Verot coaches. Sharp kid. Family seems great. Really vibed with JJ and Denard. He might be the guy, if Davis isn't.
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:34 PM ^
Btw, Michigan QB commit won Gatorade player of the year in Florida
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:35 PM ^
Whatever. I kinda feel that JJ is coming back. And with Jayden Davis getting a year to learn (like JJ did), we'll be okay.
I mean, if the kid wants to play for Brian Kelly, he's probably not the person that would respond to Harbaugh (neither good nor bad - just very different coaches). A Bama decision would be equally kinda perplexing - Saban will be retired within two years, my money says...
January 3rd, 2024 at 1:42 PM ^
I think JJ is gonna show well vs Penix, raising his draft status into the "gotta go" tier. I certainly hope he has that kind of game!
Go Blue!