Sherrone Moore evaluates Bryce Underwood spring game performance, provides update on Mikey Keene status

Michigan Wolverines football freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood made his first impression in front of fans in The Big House during Saturday’s spring game, and he impressed.

Leading the Blue team to a 17-0 victory, Underwood managed the game well, extended drives with big gains down the field and threw an 88-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Jalen Hoffman on a flea flicker on the scrimmage’s final play.

“Did well,” head coach Sherrone Moore said of Underwood’s performance. “Made some really good throws, and had some things we gotta clean up and get better at. He’s a continual work in progress, and he’s working his tail off to do it.”

Sophomore Jadyn Davis was the quarterback of the Maize team. He threw 2 interceptions compared to Underwood’s 1 and his team was shut out, but he also had some completions to move the ball.

“He got better,” Moore said of Davis’ spring overall. “He progressed and did things — every single day he got better. Bryce made him better, and he made Bryce better, so that was cool to watch throughout the spring.

“The temperament that he had and the relationship — it was really cool to see two guys compete every single day. After every throw, they dap each other up and high five each other and pick each other up when one makes another mistake and celebrate each other when one does good. It’s been great to see.”

Moore was asked about what has stood out from each Michigan quarterback over the last month-plus.

“The competitive nature, but the relationship that they both have has been really cool to watch in the spring, competing against each other but rooting for each other at the same time,” the second-year head coach replied. “So it’s been super fun to watch. Both of them are great kids, great character kids.

“And it’s a battle that’s gonna go all the way into fall camp.”

That battle will likely add a competitor soon — graduate Mikey Keene, who transferred in from Fresno State and has been with the team this semester. Keene has started over 30 college games and comes in with experience but missed the spring with an injury. Moore provided an update on his status.

“Right before the spring that kinda came upon us, so handled it,” the Michigan coach said of the injury. “He’s doing well now, he’s throwing and in a good place. Just didn’t feel like pushing it to end the spring that way. So, he’s in a great place.

“I did a study of guys who have played the most college snaps in football, and he’s played like 2,028 snaps of college football, so he’s OK to miss a spring. He’s alright.”

Moore was asked if Michigan will look for a quarterback in the portal.

“We’ll look at different options and what we need to do. We got [signee] Chase Herbstreit coming in this summer, as well, so we’ll have Mikey, evaluate and see where Davis is, and we’ll see what that situation looks like.”

Underwood appears to be the favorite to start for Michigan this fall, but there’s a lot of time left. He’s progressed since arriving on campus and taking part in bowl practices last December.

“The biggest piece is just the knowledge of where he’s going, what’s going on and his teammates and watching the other teammates grow towards him,” Moore said. “A guy that’s so highly ranked and highly touted, it’s so easy for a lot of guys to deflect and not want him to be a part of the team, but they’ve just embraced him like they’ve embraced everybody else. He’s embraced the team. He’s very humble, he’s very selfless, so that’s probably been the biggest thing to watch.

“And from the football standpoint, there are a countless amount of things that you’ve watched and seen — knowledge of the play book and things like that — so it’ll be a continual progress as we go into the summer.

“Nothing is really surprising. I kinda had a good beat on how he would be and the work ethic. He told me he’s a night owl, and that’s true, so I try to get him to sleep more, because he’s in the building a lot. He’s doing a lot to get better.

Nothing surprised me with the way he carries himself. Just knowing his family, his parents, Jay and Beverly, have done an outstanding job raising the young man, and it’s been awesome to have him around.”