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Michigan bowl practice: Bryce Underwood 'been awesome,' Alex Orji 'available' vs. Alabama, Jadyn Davis improving

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•about 22 hours•

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Michigan QB Bryce Underwood
Rick Osentoski | Imagn Images

Michigan Wolverines football had up-and-down play at quarterback this season, but all eyes are on the position as the team prepares for the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama. Five-star+ signee Bryce Underwood — the consensus No. 1 overall recruit nationally — began practicing with the team Dec. 19 and took the trip to Tampa, Fla.

According to interim offensive coordinator and tight ends Steve Casula, Underwood has been impressive in his early days with the program.

“The biggest thing I would say about him is great spirit, great energy, committed to learning what we’ve got going on,” Casula told reporters before practice. “He’s doing really good. He’s great. Great personality. He’s funny.

“I watch him, depending on the schedule, he walks by my office in the mornings. He’s one of the first guys in the building, so he’s been awesome.”

When asked if he’s surprised that the No. 1 overall recruit has come into Michigan with such a strong work ethic, Casula said “no.”

“What I’ve been exposed to at the University of Michigan, that’s how pretty much every guy has entered our program,” he explained.” He’s a great fit, and he’s been great.

“You would never know [he’s the No. 1 overall recruit]. He fits in with all of our other mid-years in the best way possible, and I mean that as a big-time compliment. He’s been awesome.”

Alex Orji ‘available’ to play against Alabama, Jadyn Davis improving

Junior quarterback Alex Orji, meanwhile, has still been putting in work with Michigan, even though he entered the NCAA transfer portal Dec. 13. Senior Davis Warren will start behind center, but even when that’s been the case, Orji has served as a change-of-pace, running quarterback off the bench. It’s at least possible he sees time New Year’s Eve against the No. 11 Crimson Tide.

“Alex is definitely … he’s here,” Casula said. “He’s practicing, he’s available, for sure. So we’ll kinda progress and do whatever we need to do to win the game.”

Michigan freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis, a former four-star recruit, is either second or third string for the bowl, even though he saw just one snap during the regular season, late in a 50-6 blowout win over Northwestern Nov. 23.

“Same thing I would say about Alex and all of the quarterbacks,” Casula said of Davis. “They’re here, practicing really good, doing a good job. [Interim quarterbacks coach] Josh Sinagoga is doing a good job being involved with their development.

“Jadyn is another guy that I’d be remiss not to mention — the leaps and bounds he’s taken over the last two weeks or so. He’s doing really well.”

Casula revealed an anecdote about a recent Michigan staff conversation about Davis.

“We made this observation about Jadyn during pregame against Ohio State: If you had to pick an intangible skill about JD2, it would be like he kinda has that unflappable, just not fazed by much,” the coach said. “You wouldn’t guess that there’s been any kind of change in that respect. He’s been great. The emotions of the game and the vibe of playing the position, whatever ‘it’ is, Jadyn’s got it.”

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