Michigan QB signee Bryce Underwood named Gatorade Michigan Football Player of the Year

Add another award to the overflowing mantle for Belleville Five-Star Plus+ quarterback and soon-to-be Michigan Wolverine Bryce Underwood.

On Friday, the 6-foot-4, 214-pound gunslinger was named the 2024 Gatorade Michigan Football Player of the Year. He also took home the award in 2023.

Leading Belleville to a 10-2 record this fall, Underwood threw for 2,321 yards and 30 touchdowns to just five interceptions, completing over 71 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 582 yards and 10 scores. Underwood is the first player from Belleville High to earn the prestigious award.

“Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Underwood as Michigan’s best high school football player, and he joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such as Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fl.), Peyton Manning (1993-94, Isidore Newman School, La.) and DJ Lagway (2023-24, Willis High School, Texas),” Gatorade wrote of Underwood in a press release.

Underwood is the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Bryce Underwood signs with Michigan

Underwood was officially announced as a part of Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class on National Signing Day earlier this week. He flipped his commitment to the in-state Wolverines from LSU in a shocker on Nov. 21.

“He’s as good as any high school quarterback I’ve seen play football,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said of Underwood.

He is the first No. 1 overall prospect Michigan has signed since EDGE Rashan Gary in 2016. Underwood headlines a U-M class that ranks No. 9 in the nation, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Underwood has an NIL Valuation of $2.3 million. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Bryce Underwood Scouting Summary

On3’s Scouting and Rankings team writes this about him as a prospect:

“Underwood is a premier arm talent who is one of the more gifted high school quarterback prospects in the last 5-10 cycles. Combination of arm strength, pocket feel, processing ability and athleticism makes him the top quarterback in the 2025 cycle. Owns a wide-shouldered frame, measuring in at 6-foot-4, 214 pounds with 10-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Touts a big-time arm with the ability to drive the ball with velocity to all levels of the field. Has the ability to touch every area of the field with ease. Throws a very tight spiral that amplifies the velocity on the tail of his passes. Has shown advanced skill as a passer. Comfortable delivering over the middle of the field from within the pocket. Consistently sticks the ball on receivers against tight coverage. Shows the ability to layer passes with touch and high-level location, especially downfield.”