Michigan Urged to ‘Move Away’ From QB Bryce Underwood by Former College Coach
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Fans of the University of Michigan had high hopes for former No. 1 ranked quarterback recruit Bryce Underwood heading into his sophomore season. But after a second-straight loss for the Wolverines on Saturday, one former college coach believes that it may be time for the program to move on from Underwood as their starter.
Michigan failed to show much of a pulse offensively on Saturday against Minnesota, recording just 180 total yards of offense. Individually, Underwood was held without a passing or rushing touchdown and threw for just 101 yards while completing just 47.6 percent of his passes.
The loss drops Michigan to 3-2 on the year and 0-2 in Big Ten play. And with looming matchups against ranked opponents like Indiana, Oregon, UCLA, and Ohio State still remaining on their schedule, former Colorado Buffaloes head coach Rick Neuheisel believes the program needs to make a change at quarterback to avoid things going further downhill.
Neuheisel, now an analyst on CBS Sports, discussed Michigan's loss and made it clear that he believes that Underwood could use some time learning the position on the sidelines for his own development as a player.
"It's my belief that Kyle Whittingham and the Michigan Wolverines need to move away from Bryce Underwood. It doesn't have to be a permanent deal. But it's important that the team know that the offense is not going well enough to stay with the status quo. Underwood and the Michigan offense is 17th of 18 teams in the Big Ten. That's certainly not up to Michigan's standards. Although, that has been the case since he took over as a young freshman.
"I still believe Bryce Underwood can be a great player. But I think it would do him well to stand on the bench and see how this thing works and see that this job can't be just given to people. Tommy Carr, who knows what he will be. But we need to find out, if you are a Michigan fan. I think it's time for Kyle (Whittingham) to actually make that move, despite the fact that NIL brought Bryce Underwood away from LSU and back to his home state of Michigan, and just let him learn a little bit from the sideline. I think it would do the offense well. And I think it would be outstanding for Bryce Underwood."
There are certainly pros and cons about how time on the bench would serve Bryce Underwood.
But simply in terms of which quarterback gives Michigan the best chance to win currently, it's hard to argue that it may be time to at least see what other options like Tommy Carr or Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi can do for this Michigan offense in place of Underwood.
Regardless of whether or not Whittingham makes this decision, the scrutiny Underwood is facing sure seems to perhaps be at an all-time high. So all eyes will be on the first-year Michigan coach to see who he decides to have lead his offense in their next matchup against Penn State, which comes after a much-needed bye week in Week 6.
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