Urban Meyer responds to pushback on his Bryce Underwood love: 'You don't have to like them, but you better show respect'

Urban Meyer apparently got quite the reaction when he proclaimed that Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood was “going to be a great player” recently. Enough that he felt the need to address it on The Triple Option podcast.

The former coach turned analyst offered a relatively benign opinion, that folks should have expected a rough game from Underwood when he went to Oklahoma. He suggested that shouldn’t be taken as some sort of evidence that Underwood can’t hack it at this level.

In explaining his position further, Meyer noted to co-host Mark Ingram that he has Bryce Underwood in his top three quarterbacks in the Big Ten currently. He’s been vocal about that.

“Gerry DiNardo and I and Big Ten Network, we actually went through the Big Ten quarterbacks,” Meyer said. “They’re all over the place. I’ve got three guys that I think are… you know, it’s amazing when I complimented Bryce Underwood, Mark, my phone blew up. People were saying, ‘What the hell is wrong with you? You’re complimenting a Wolverine.’ I said, ‘I used to compliment them all the time. You don’t have to like ’em, but you better show respect.'”

In other words, Meyer might not be rooting for Bryce Underwood or Michigan, but he can recognize talent when it jumps off the tape. Underwood does.

“I’m telling you that guy, talent for talent, he might be as good as I’ve seen in a while,” Meyer said. “And you know what they added? Something in the I think it was the second quarter, 12 minutes left in the second quarter, a Q run. And the whole world just took notice because you start adding that into that offense, he’s going to be a tough one.”

Bryce Underwood bounced back from the game against Oklahoma with a strong showing against Central Michigan, though not a perfect one. He finished 16-of-25 passing for 235 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran nine times for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Bottom line: Meyer’s sticking to his guns. It’s just a simple talent evaluation.

“So Bryce Underwood, I know he started slow against Oklahoma, but he’s going to be a monster,” Meyer said.