Two schools stand out as Bryce Underwood approaches January decision date

Belleville (Michigan) Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Bryce Underwood is the nation’s top prospect in the 2025 cycle, and he is just weeks away from making his college decision.

Currently, Underwood is leading Belleville through a Michigan high school playoff rampage — stomping on the competition with a pair of 30-plus point wins en route to what could be Belleville’s third-consecutive state title.

Alongside success on the field, Underwood is also progressing toward making his college decision. On3 Director of Recruiting spoke with Josh Newberg on On3’s The Inside Scoop football recruiting show about Underwood’s process.

“You know I think Bryce is very smart, he has a great circle and support group around him,” Simmons said. “They have a plan in place, they want to make sure that they check every box that they’re looking for in a program as they evaluate their different options. Obviously, he’s been to games I think at Colorado, LSU and Penn State so far this season. He went to Michigan late in July for their barbecue right there 30 minutes from home in Ann Arbor. So I think obviously they’re just doing their homework, checking the boxes. Talking and face-time with coaches, see how the family feels on the environment. Asking the needed questions they want to find answers to as they move closer to that decision.”

Underwood top prospect in 2025

Underwood is the No. 1 prospect in both the 2025 On300 and On3 Industry Ranking. His On3 scouting report describes him as: “A top arm talent and plus athlete who is among the more physically gifted quarterback prospects in recent cycles.”

“I mean you talk about checking boxes, he does that as a quarterback, as a five-star elite athlete — playing the quarterback, the most important position in all of football,” Simmons said. “So you look at his size, his measurables, the intangibles. Two-time state champion going for a three-peat this year as a junior in high school. Mature beyond his age off the field. Obviously, has the live arm, he has the mobility. He’s a big kid, he’s a leader, he’s a winner. He checks so many boxes for us — Charles Power, Cody Bellaire and our staff here at On3. He’s a guy that to me is kind of like a no-brainer when you look at him for the first time. You see him throw the ball around, put the tape on, watch three clips — you offer that kind of kid.”

LSU and Michigan battling

Underwood released a trimmed list of seven schools this week, including Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, and Florida State. Simmons believes the top tier of that list consists of the Tigers and Wolverines.

“Tier one has to be LSU and Michigan,” Simmons said. “I think people that follow recruiting, like recruiting, read about recruiting, listen to guys like yourself know that LSU and Michigan are battling at the top. There is no doubt about that. He’s been to LSU four times, he was there over the summer, back for the Auburn game. He’s taken his family with him each time. He loves Joe Sloan, he loves the offensive scheme they run. And obviously, he’s paying very close attention to what Jayden Daniels is doing this year in that system as well — leading the nation in offensive categories as far as putting the most yards out there. So that plays a role.

“Then you’ve got Michigan 30 minutes from home, he’s been there the most — 10-plus times throughout his recruitment,” Simmons continued. “The biggest question about Michigan is he has not been there for a game this season, does that matter? Right now he’s looking to maybe be there for the Ohio State game but if things go well for Belleville, they’ll be playing in the state championship game that weekend as well. So that’s the one question there. He loves Kirk Campbell, the family does. The relationships are there. LSU and Michigan are battling tight for that top spot.”

Other schools in contention

In addition to Michigan and LSU, Underwood has visited schools like Penn State and Colorado — two more programs on his list of seven.

“If you’re talking about tier two, I would talk about maybe Penn State,” Simmons said. “He’s been there a handful of times. Quarterback analyst Danny O’Brien is very involved there. He was there for the White Out game against Iowa earlier this year in September. The communication, I’ve confirmed, goes on there, stays pretty consistent there. And you know he’s been to Colorado — they took (Antwann) Hill, a 2025 quarterback. Other schools are in the mix.

“If there is that tier three, maybe that school that’s lurking a little bit, I would say watch Florida State. He has never been there, why did they make the top seven? That piques my interest a little bit — why are they on the list? You know other schools he’s been to, maybe Michigan State or someone local could’ve made that list. Maybe just list six schools. FSU has never had him on campus before, but there’s some communication there. I haven’t heard their name tied to him, so if he pops up in Tallahassee someday, keep an eye on that.”

Impact of Michigan sign-stealing scandal

This week, the Big Ten Conference sent a notice of disciplinary action to the University of Michigan for allegations of advance in-person scouting of opponents. With that investigation still ongoing, Simmons addressed how that may impact Michigan recruiting, specifically in the case of Underwood.

“You know I think he’s keeping an eye on that, but I don’t think that’s at the forefront based on what I’m being told,” Simmons said about Michigan’s current situation. “He’s evaluating each school from top to bottom, inside and out. He knows coaches make moves, coaches stay and some go. Coordinators come and go. I think it starts, with Michigan, with Kirk Campbell. They have a great relationship, he loves his quarterback coaching style. He loves what he sees in J.J. McCarthy. But obviously, what’s happening at Michigan and around Harbaugh and the whole sign-stealing scandal, that definitely is probably in play and being considered there. But I don’t think it’s a big factor in this decision.”

Decision date set in stone

Underwood announced that he is planning to commit on January 6. Despite settling on a decision date, there is no sense that a final decision has been made by the elite signal-caller.

“I don’t, Josh. I don’t think he knows,” Simmons said. “Does he have a leader, does he have a favorite? I think all kids have leaders — they won’t always say, ‘I have a top school,’ or one-two-three-four. . . We all have favorites, that’s just common sense. I think based on doing some digging, talking to people tied to his camp, I would lean slightly — very slightly — toward maybe LSU. Like 51-49 over Michigan today. But this one I do think still is far from over. There will still be some heavy discussions made, some questions asked from Underwood’s camp to each school on his list as they prepare to make that big decision.”