Within hours of Michigan firing Sherrone Moore on Wednesday, rumors and recruitment encircled quarterback Bryce Underwood.
The No. 1 player in the Class of 2025, Underwood infamously flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan to join the Wolverines and play for Moore last year.
Underwood is expected to wrap his freshman season in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in a high-profile matchup with Arch Manning and Texas on New Year’s Day. But players are permitted a 15-day window to enter the transfer portal following a coaching change, and other programs are not likely to tiptoe around the topic of adding a five-star quarterback.
To be sure, big-name alumni aren’t waiting for any imaginary grace period.
“Come home son @BryceUnderwoo16,” former LSU and NFL safety Tyrann Mathieu said via X on Wednesday night. “We are waiting & will accept you with open arms. FOREVER LSU”
New LSU coach Lane Kiffin built a playoff team at Ole Miss utilizing the transfer portal and can point to 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart (New York Giants) as one such success story. Before Dart starred at Ole Miss, he was at USC when a coaching change brought Lincoln Riley to Los Angeles. Caleb Williams decided to transfer from Oklahoma and became the starter for the Trojans.
LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is headed to the NFL, removing a potential obstacle from Underwood’s path, and another — Ju’Juan Johnson — announced via social media he is transferring.
Underwood also received an NIL package reportedly worth more than $2 million annually in Ann Arbor.
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt is reportedly in contact with Kiffin about possibly transferring to Baton Rouge.
Underwood’s first-year impact might not have been the splash some expected from the Detroit product with a 50-4 record in high school. He has passed for 2,229 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions with a 61.1 completion percentage plus 323 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Underwood is only 18 years old and doesn’t turn 19 until August. At 6-4, 220 pounds, his natural skills jump out and Kiffin has molded enough prospects into pros to be well-armed if he enters this chat.
