How Michigan defense's trash talk is helping prepare QB Bryce Underwood: 'He is so focused'

The Michigan Wolverines football defense has a swagger to it. And yes, the group likes to talk trash, even to their teammates on the opposite side of the ball in fall camp practices.

Probably B-Hill, Jaishawn and big ‘0’ in the middle, Tré,” sophomore running back Jordan Marshall said, revealing that junior safety Brandyn Hillman, senior linebacker Jaishawn Barham and graduate defensive tackle Tré Williams are the three best at it.

Marshall picks his spots when talking smack, saving most of it for games over practices. But he appreciates the chatter from the other side, acknowledging that it will help Michigan’s offense come the tests in actual games.

“We know that other teams are gonna do the same thing, so it’s good they’re doing that,” Marshall said.

The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Marshall then gave his prediction that Michigan will have a younger starting signal-caller.

“They’re talking to the quarterbacks, too, all of them, trying to get in their head, because we’re gonna have a young quarterback,” Marshall said.

“This quarterback — whichever one it is — me and [junior running back] Justice [Haynes] are gonna have to play a big role in making sure our quarterback is staying balanced, their mindset is well and just to help them throughout the game, when we go into big games.”

Freshman Bryce Underwood — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class — will have to earn the job during fall camp, but he’s widely expected to become the starter. The 6-foot-4, 228-pounder may have been who Marshall was referring to, but as he continued talking he discussed the other options at the position, which include graduate Jake Garcia, an ECU transfer who enrolled this summer, and sophomore Jadyn Davis.

“It’s been a competitive summer, competitive camp, and Jadyn, Jake, Bryce have all been competitive,” the Michigan running back said. “It’s been exciting to see all of them sling the ball.

“You come to Michigan to compete. Jadyn could’ve done whatever and left, but he wanted to compete. That sticks with me as a competitor, and Bryce the same way, Jake the same way. We have guys here that can start at quarterback, and I’m just excited.

“Whoever goes out there is gonna deal the ball, and me and Justice are gonna do whatever we can — me, Justice, [junior Bryson] Kuz[dzal], [sophomore] Micah [Ka’apana], whoever it is — to help them win ball games.”

The hope is that Underwood, if he is Michigan’s starter, takes after Marshall, who’s so dialed in during games that he doesn’t notice much else around him.

“During the games, I’m so locked in that I can’t even hear the stands sometimes,” he said. “I can only hear the quarterback, [Michigan head] Coach [Sherrone] Moore and [running backs] Coach [Tony] Alford. For me, I try to make sure nobody can throw me outside of my game. Just being focused on myself and refocusing my mind every single play.

“This happens on a Friday: I sit in the shower, listen to music and kinda just visualize myself making these plays, visualize what’s gonna happen if something doesn’t go my way. How do I bounce back? That’s just a mental exercise, and I’m big on mental health and knowing your limits.

“That’s something that I think if you master at a young age and understand that nobody else can get in your head, the sky’s the limit, because you’re playing like you’re back in sixth grade, back in second grade. I’m just that little kid playing again, and this is just fun.”

Marshall has been pleased with the way Underwood has stayed composed even during competitive portions of practice, and that bodes well for when Michigan starts the season, including in hostile environments on the road such as Oklahoma on Sept. 6.

“I think Bryce handles it well,” Marshall said of the trash talk from the defense. “He walks away. I think his mindset is a lot like me. He is so focused on how to make the team better and how to do things to make sure he’s playing the best, because he can’t have a bad play. You can’t do that. You have to be so detailed in what you’re doing, and I think he’s done such a great job with the pressure, with talking and communicating during the plays, motions.

“It’s been amazing watching him and seeing like, dang, he’s gonna be a dawg, because his mindset is there. His mental is there. Everything else — the physical part — he’s just gifted. To have that mental part as a young age is just beautiful.”