The college football landscape is ever-changing. Anyone who follows recruiting can attest to that fact considering following 16-18-year-olds’ daily lives and football careers gets to be fickle.
This week, there were rumors floated by Michigan insiders that the 5-5 defending national champions are prepared to offer top-rated 2025 recruit Bryce Underwood an NIL deal upwards of $10.5 million. Despite seemingly falling behind in the NIL world, Michigan is still Michigan. $10.5 million should be chump change for what is considered to be one of the premier institutions of higher learning and, for the time being, the winningest college football program in history.
Underwood seemingly made his intentions clear with a post to Instagram on Thursday morning.
Bryce Underwood’s IG story after this report dropped https://t.co/Z0MTr2bAf0 pic.twitter.com/ZFmuhzC3ZJ
— Max Chadwick (@CFBMaxChadwick) November 14, 2024
Top 2025 Recruit Posts Update Regarding MASSIVE NIL Rumors
Bagging Underwood was going to be an uphill battle for the Wolverines. After winning the national championship, head coach Jim Harbaugh fled the program for the Los Angeles Chargers and took with him defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter. Plus, the program lost dozens of senior and super-senior talents from the team, leaving the cupboard not bare but struggling.
The team has plenty of talent remaining, mostly on the defensive side of the ball. Michigan also has former four-star quarterback recruit Jadyn Davis waiting in the wings, presumably the starter in 2025.
Having to offer him this much to have a chance just shows how much Bryce Underwood doesn’t want to go to Michigan https://t.co/pQTPPtCbOs
— Mik’d Up (@Mikdup_8) November 14, 2024
Perhaps the most paramount of all the issues facing the program is the looming cloud of sanctions and punishments from the Harbaugh-led, three-year-long cheating scandal. The NCAA served the program with punishments for recruiting violations during the COVID season and has since sent Michigan its Notice of Allegations surrounding the cheating scandal.
The top-ranked 2025 recruit of the class is likely not looking to get stuck behind Davis nor be hampered by the years-long sanctions.
Big Game Brian Kelly Stays Winning
Bryce Underwood’s recruitment will not end until he is out of college football. Michigan will ramp up its efforts until and through Underwood’s signature hits the LSU athletic complex. Plus, the transfer portal will play a part.
LSU continually recruits well, as has Brian Kelly in his career. Getting a player of Underwood’s caliber is a massive win for Kelly and his increasingly uncertain future. If LSU drops another game and/or misses out on the College Football Playoff, Kelly’s seat could heat up and this recruitment could get even spicier.
247Sports‘ scouting report of the top 2025 recruit states:
“Potential franchise signal caller with the ideal blend of size, arm talent and athleticism. Exhibited no shortage of field command midway through senior season, which makes sense given resume: over 48 career starts and upwards of 165 touchdowns accounted for. Those numbers are amplified even more by the fact that he’s extremely young for the grade and won’t turn 20 years old until his third year of college. Has continued to improve as a passer and has gotten much more in tune with his mechanics.
However, the biggest revelation in his final prep campaign has been his ability to move the chains with his legs as he builds speed and dodges defenders as an open-field runner with a frame that’s north of 6-foot-3 and pushing 215 pounds. Displays excellent pocket awareness for his age and isn’t one that panics as pressure builds. Does best to stay on schedule and hit his marks with authority, showing the ability to not only challenge tight coverage windows with velocity over the middle, but also throw with both touch and anticipation to the second and third levels.
Projects as a multi-year impact player for a College Football Playoff contender that has a chance to eventually emerge as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft with his tools. Might need a semester or two to find his footing, but ability to hunt big plays and distribute on the move could be hard to keep off the field even if he’s still learning how to dissect complex defenses.”
More College Football News
- “$10.5M”: College Football Fans Explode Over Michigan Wolverines Set To Offer LSU Tigers Commit Bryce Underwood Money
- “Bryce Underwood Welcome To Michigan”: Michigan Wolverines Fans Explode Over Carter Smith De-committing From Program
- “He Ain’t Going To Michigan”: Fans Explode Over Bryce Underwood Recruiting News
- Michigan Willing to pay 10.5M NIL Deal to Top Recruit
- “He Works For Them Even When He Doesn’t” – Former Michigan Wolverines Staffer Working Closely Alongside Massive 5-Star Recruit
- BREAKING: Michigan Wolverines Staffer Connor Stalions Admits To Sign Stealing In Recent Investigation
