Bryce Underwood era begins at Michigan: What Greg Crippen sees in his new QB

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Wolverines will start freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood in Saturday’s season opener against New Mexico, adding another chapter to the five-star phenom’s journey as a signal-caller.

The focus now turns to squeezing every drop of potential possible out of a 2025 season that has higher expectations than the one that preceded it. Underwood has the talent to elevate the pieces around him, but he is still a true freshman and less than a week removed from his 18th birthday.

The offensive line will play a major role in his success, and graduate center Greg Crippen will have a direct connection with Underwood each snap. As impressed as he has been by the talent, he also sees a high-character person developing into his role.

 ”I think the biggest thing from him is that he’s been really humble,” Crippen said on Monday. “With how we came into the program with the money and five-star [status], I think he’s always been grounded and being a good person, I thought that was the biggest thing that stood out with me with JJ [McCarthy] is being a good person. That’s one of the biggest things.

“On the field, like, how he controls the offense, how he tempos and it almost gets relaxed and not like frantic or anything, helps us as well. So I think that’s been really, really great.”

Underwood and Michigan’s ability to grow and develop will be shaped by the work done in the trenches. Crippen knows as a veteran he has a large role to play in making sure the freshman passer has it as easy as possible.

 ”That’s one of the biggest things that we have to do is protect the quarterback,” Crippen said. “I know one of my jobs is making sure I’m taking a lot off his plate as well [and] making sure our protections are right. If a certain call checks to a different call, making sure that’s right and taking things off his plate in that sense.

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“As much as I can off his plate. He’s got a lot going on with pre-snap stuff and post snap. I think one of the biggest areas of growth for him was, in the spring [was] getting the call and repeating it to us, and every call is long. You have got to be able to hear it and then say it to us. He’s gotten a lot better at that. As an offense, we did very good in camp and we’re happy where we’re at.”

Crippen does not have a lot of time to watch Underwood in live action give his position group’s need to make sure plays last long enough for something good to happen. But when he flips on the film, he sees what the Michigan passing game can be.

“Probably shouldn’t look back during the play,” Crippen laughed. “But after we watch the film, sometimes we’re like, ‘Oh shoot. That was good play.’ When we’re watching film and obviously give him a clean pocket to throw the ball, he does an amazing job and I’m really excited to see him play.”

Ultimately, Crippen and the Michigan line need not worry who is under center. They have a job to do regardless of the quarterback, and the fifth-year lineman has personal goals he wants to achieve no matter what.

 ”That’s our goal every game,” Crippen said. “It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, but we have high expectations for ourselves. I know for me,I want to be the best center in the country. I wasn’t named as one of the Rimington watch list guys, but that fires me up. I’m ready to have a great season and I know we’re all really excited as a whole offensive line.

“Obviously, protecting Bryce is a very important thing, but that’s the standard in our room and that’s what we’re gonna do.”