Michigan QB Bryce Underwood reveals the craziest thing he's read about himself on social media

If it seems like Michigan Wolverines football freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood is a bit guarded during interviews with media, it’s because he probably is — and some of his skepticism is more than likely warranted.

A five-star+ prospect and the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, Underwood has been in the spotlight since he was in eighth grade. His high-profile recruitment was heavily scrutinized from then until he flipped from LSU late last cycle — and since he’s projected to start behind center as a true freshman this fall, he’s often talked about on national and local shows and, of course, social media.

The 6-foot-4 Belleville (Mich.) High product can’t lie — he’s seen some of the ridiculousness on social media. When asked for the “craziest” thing he’s read about himself online is while appearing on The Wolverine Podcast at the Champions Circle Golf Classic, Underwood laughed.

“I’m fat,” Underwood said, referring to (mostly anti-Michigan) fans running with the false notion that he added bad weight after there was a photo of him shirtless posted during the spring.

Underwood has mostly laughed that — and other social media craziness — off.

“I just got off of social media, you feel me?” Underwood said of his reaction. “I kinda low key … I was sitting there confused, because … It gets to a point, but it’s cool, though.”

Underwood revealed to TheWolverine.com in mid-July that he was up from 215 to 230 pounds and feeling more “explosive.” He agreed Monday that his legs are an underrated aspect of his game. After all, Underwood rushed for over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns as a senior in high school — all while completing 71.8 percent of his passes for 2,509 yards and 32 scores.

“People think I’m not that athletic,” Underwood said. “I don’t know how.”

And then came the dry humor. “I’m fat, that’s why,” he said.

In reality, the Michigan signal-caller has put in work with Justin Tress and the strength and conditioning staff all offseason.

“It’s been fun,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying everything. Coach Tress does an amazing job with their staff and everything like that. Can’t be anything but thankful for that.”

Throwing sessions with his Michigan pass-catchers have been aplenty, too.

“Honestly, during the offseason we’ve spent a lot of time together with all of my receivers,” the Detroit native said. “We’ve all spent a lot of time together, getting the ball out to them, learning each other’s timing and stuff like that, what kind of ball placement they like and what’s the best way for them to catch the ball.

“I’d say during this offseason it was pretty much all of them, because they all surprised me with the work ethic they came with at 6 in the morning, 5 in the morning or 8 at night. Even when they’re not doing anything, we go to the field, build our timing, build our chemistry together.”

Underwood and sophomore Jadyn Davis received all of the quarterback reps during Michigan’s spring practices, due in large part to graduates Mikey Keene and Davis Warren being injured. That allowed for both signal-callers to develop at a rapid pace, including through competition.

“Obviously, he’s a great player, and I think this spring was really unique because it was just me and him taking the reps,” Davis said of Underwood. “Being able to learn with a guy like this, this talented … coming out of high school, he’s very polished for how young he is.

“Bouncing ideas off of each other, talk through reads, talk through progressions, going in the meeting room together, watching film together — all of those things, iron sharpens iron. That’s what [offensive coordinator and quarterbacks] Coach [Chip] Lindsey has preached in our room and to our offense.”

“Going against Jadyn every single day just made me a better quarterback, a better person,” Underwood added. “Just learning who he is as a person motivates me to be a better person.”

Facing coordinator Wink Martindale’s Michigan defense, too, has helped. Martindale, who has decades of experience coaching in the NFL, is known for his wide variety of blitzes and coverages he throws at opposing quarterbacks.

“It’s crazy,” Davis said. “I don’t think there are a lot of coverages that our quarterback room hasn’t seen, just because of the things that Coach Wink does and the blitzes he brings. I think we’re the first college program he’s been with since leaving the NFL, so he brings all the tricks that he learned in his time as an NFL coach, and I guess we’re the victims of some of his calls.”

“Honestly, it’s a huge transition for me, coming from high school, of course, jumping right into that,” Underwood noted. “This is more of preparation for where he just was and where he just left from the NFL and stuff like that, rather than preparing you for the next game or anything like that. I’d say that prepared me for the long run and things like that.”