Lincoln Riley shares his impressions of Bryce Underwood

Reaching the halfway point of his true freshman season, Michigan’s Bryce Underwood has already played in two bigger-time games on the road. Now, he’ll face another as the maize & blue go out to the west coast to play USC in the Coliseum on Saturday night.

Lincoln Riley previewed the Trojans’ matchup with the Wolverines’ highly-touted quarterback while speaking with the media on Wednesday. He noted the physical tools as well as the progression we’ve already seen five games into the collegiate career for Underwood.

“He’s a really good player,” Riley said. “You know, he’s obviously young, but he’s getting in some unique situations here for a young guy that I’m sure will be good for his development. He certainly – I mean, you see the physical talent, his ability to move, his arm strength. You know, he’s a big kid. So, yeah, I mean, he’s doing a good job.”

Through the 4-1 start for No. 15 Michigan, Underwood is 77-130 (59.2%) for 1,003 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception, while rushing for 181 yards and three more scores. He has then further developed over the past month after a rough outing in their loss at Oklahoma, with Underwood completing 62.7% of his passes for 203.3 yards per game with two touchdowns and a pick, while rushing for 62.3 yards and all three of his scores on the ground, in the past three games for the Wolverines, with all of those being wins and two of those being conference victories at Nebraska and over Wisconsin.

Underwood is still very young and has a ways to go before getting to what the top-end of his game could be. He presents a challenge in the now, though, for the Trojans’ defense this weekend, with Riley needing his unit to make him make plays in his sixth start in college.

“You know, talented guy that we’re going to have to corral and a guy that we need to put pressure on,” Riley said. “We need to make him execute, and that’s the name of the game for any quarterback at any level, especially in these big games.”

Underwood will be under some bright lights in Los Angeles on Saturday in an important conference matchup in the Big Ten. Southern Cal will hope to make it too big a spot for him, with Riley wanting them to limit the young quarterback as best they’re able.