Trainer of five-star QB Bryce Underwood talks January 6 commitment, push from Michigan
The No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class – Belleville (Mich.) High quarterback Bryce Underwood – is slated to announce a verbal commitment on January 6, with Michigan continuing to press.
“Treat it like a football game; take it as it comes,” renowned quarterback trainer Donovan Dooley told The Wolverine on Wednesday at the Supermax 100 Invitational in Ford Field. “Move the chains. At the end of the day, in all that you’re feeling, make sure it’s good and the good is for you.”
But so have other finalists in Underwood’s top seven, including Alabama and LSU. As the days inch closer and closer, Dooley compared this recruitment to dating. Every school and every coach has put in their best effort to lock in the generational signal caller.
“Obviously, it’s accelerated right now,” Dooley said. “It’s all salesmanship, but obviously, genuine relationships and when the family comes together and decides where he’s gonna go and Bryce decides where he’s gonna go, they’re gonna get a great one.”
Michigan has hosted Underwood on at least 11 unofficial visits, A benefit and advantage of being located less than 30 minutes from Belleville, seven more than the school in second, which is LSU.
The communication between the coaching staff and Underwood has been ongoing since the junior was in middle school. It’s stepped up tremendously since quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell got promoted this past January.
“I think they continuously build the relationship. I don’t think they ever stop,” Dooley said. “It’s just about a cat and mouse game. So many conversations get redundant. It’s about what do you see, what can you forecast, what about the program, and that’s essentially it.”
Campbell has gotten assistance with the Underwood recruitment from analyst Josh Sinagoga and head coach Jim Harbaugh, who’ve all been transparent in the eyes of Dooley.
“I think it’s been really good,” Dooley said. “It’s tough because you have a kid who’s highly touted and is close. But that trio are doing great as a collective. More importantly, holding a relationship with Bryce. As you can tell, it’s coming January 6, so we’ll see where he goes.”
Underwood took four game-day visits in the fall, with Michigan welcoming him to The Big House in late November for the win over Ohio State. He stayed the first half and enjoyed the pregame festivities before joining back up with Belleville for MHSAA Division I Championship preparations, but it was his first opportunity to see a balanced offense and the progression of JJ McCarthy live.
“The commitment (to throwing the ball) is there,” Dooley said. “They had a game where (McCarthy) threw the ball only one time or not once, but I still think the balance is there. I think explosiveness is sudden. Up front is unique ans special. It creates eight-man boxes, which allows JJ to have easy access throws, play at an elite, and have high percentage throws. So they’re doing really good and we’ll see how they do against Alabama.”
Despite the double-digit returns to Ann Arbor, Michigan trails LSU by a wide margin on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) for Underwood. Quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and head coach Brian Kelly are leading the way. While former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock left for a lateral position at Notre Dame, it hasn’t changed how the Tigers are perceived.
“They’re keeping it close to the vest, but obviously, you’re LSU so they’re gonna get a hire in that is experienced,” Dooley said. “A guy that’s going to bring some credibility and also some creativity to the offense. I don’t think there are any worries there. I think most important is the head man and the supporting cast and the guy in the quarterback room.”
Alabama solidified its standing for Underwood when he traveled to Tuscaloosa the weekend before the December dead period.
“Awesome,” Dooley said. “Bryce visiting Bama, just understanding the culture, the coaches. Obviously, everybody is going to put their best foot forward when he gets on campus because it’s Bryce Underwood, but obviously it’s a perennial program and they do a lot of great things there.”
Before the Ohio State game, Underwood spent two days in Ann Arbor, the weekend of Michigan’s annual late July BBQ at The Big House. If the No. 1 ranked quarterback in the country chooses the Wolverines, how would he change the dynamic of the program?
“Underwood is a unicorn,” Dooley said. “He can change anyone’s offense.”
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