Five-star+ Michigan QB signee Bryce Underwood participates in first college practice: 'You’re not the No. 1 recruit in the country for no reason'

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football five-star+ quarterback signee Bryce Underwood — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class — officially enrolled at U-M earlier this week. He participated in his first college practice Thursday, as the Wolverines prepare to face No. 11 Alabama in the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla. He’s one of over a dozen early enrollees who will take part in bowl practices.

Senior Davis Warren will start at quarterback for Michigan against the Crimson Tide, and he met with the media Thursday afternoon after hitting the practice field. Warren, who’s started eight games for the Maize and Blue in 2024, has been impressed with Underwood since he signed earlier this month.

“Bryce, he’s started to get rolling here with us, and man, he’s a great kid, first and foremost,” the former walk-on said of the Belleville (Mich.) High product. “Loves football. You can tell he’s a competitor. Humble, wants to get better.

“I think it’s a little bit of a beautiful thing, the way he came in versus the way I came in — it couldn’t be any different. I don’t know if there was even an article written about me when I was committed, and I’m sure there have been a lot written about him. But you wouldn’t even be able to tell.

“He’s just a guy that wants to get better, wants to improve, knows he’s got a lot to learn, just like any freshman would, but he’s been great.

“Today was really his first day rolling with us, and he wants to help this team win games, just like I do, just like everybody in this building wants to. That’s the way [Michigan head] Coach [Sherrone] Moore has built it. He built the recruiting classes. I’m so glad that Bryce is here, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun to have him.”

While it’s just been one day as an official member of the Michigan program, Warren has seen the No. 1 overall recruit’s physical talent on display.

“We’ve done some things,” Warren said of working out. “You’re not the No. 1 recruit in the country for no reason. He’s a super talented kid, and he cares about the details. He wants to get better. He wants to do things the right way, and wants to do things the Michigan way.”

“He’s all of 6-5,” Michigan senior EDGE TJ Guy said. “That’s one thing I noticed right away. He’s tall. He’s a big kid. I saw him throw a little bit, and it looks good coming out of his hand”.

Warren played more snaps this season than he did all of his high school career, which was interrupted by his bout with leukemia and his senior season being canceled due to high school officials’ response to the coronavirus pandemic. He’s learned quite a bit while going through his first season as a starter, and understands that experience is valuable.

“Oh, totally. Even I felt that from when I started the season to the end of the season, just the comfortability, being in the program, being in the system. We were just trying to help Bryce find his helmet today,” Warren said with a laugh.

“There’s a certain level of getting that all figured out and making sure all those things … there’s a lot going on. I remember my first practice, and just making sure I wasn’t late and everything lined up. I remember making one good throw, and [former Michigan head] Coach [Jim] Harbaugh hyping me up, and that was what I needed at the time to make me feel like I belong and can move forward.

“No one has a perfect career, right? Maybe you can name one or two guys ever that have been … but everybody’s had hiccups. Even [former NFL star] Peyton Manning threw the most interceptions for a rookie in NFL history. Whoever — you can name anyone.

“Everyone’s gonna have ups and downs. I’ve had ups and downs in my career, and he’s gonna have ups and downs, too. But I know he’s well-suited for it, and that was kind of my message to him, was take it all in stride, take it all as a learning opportunity, be humble, be hungry and you’ll fit in well here and earn respect of the guys.

“Because that’s a huge thing about playing quarterback, is having the respect of the group and knowing that when you’re out there, they can trust you to make the right play and be the competitor you need to be to win the game.”

Underwood will be a key part of Michigan’s starting quarterback competition next season, and Warren may be as well. He hasn’t decided exactly what he’ll do in 2025, but Moore has told him he has a place in Ann Arbor.

“I’m just focused on the game right now,” Warren said. “Want to get a win against ‘Bama, finish the season on our terms and then go from there.”