Michigan’s five-star quarterback signee, Bryce Underwood, posted a reel on Instagram on Sunday to celebrate his enrollment at Ann Arbor. The post featured clips of Underwood, who has a NIL valuation of $2.2 million (per On3), practicing and wearing Michigan's maize and blue colors.
The post garnered a lot of reactions on social media, including a comment from soon-to-be former Michigan quarterback Alex Orji, who wrote:
“God got u.”
Orji was a four-star recruit out of high school, per ESPN. The 21-year-old attended Sachse High School in Sachse, Texas, where he was a starter in his junior and senior years. He completed 226 of 436 passes for 3,467 yards and 38 touchdowns. He was lethal on his feet, rushing for 2,113 yards and 39 touchdowns.
He flipped his commitment from Virginia Tech to Michigan and won two Big Ten titles and a national championship in three seasons. He spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as the backup to JJ McCarthy before competing for the starting spot under coach Sherrone Moore.
After starting just three games for the Wolverines in 2024, Orji entered the transfer portal on Dec. 13 ahead of his senior season. The move is important for Orji, who would be looking to increase his playing time as he exhausts his college eligibility.
Bryce Underwood’s commitment to Michigan revisited
Bryce Underwood is the top quarterback and overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class. The Belleville High product officially signed with the Wolverines on Dec. 5, 2024, and has already started classes and practice at the school.
Underwood, who was initially committed to the LSU Tigers, flipped his commitment to Michigan in November. The move became one of the defining moments of the 2025 recruiting cycle, underscoring the impact of NIL in modern college recruitment. NFL legend Tom Brady and Oracle founder Larry Ellison were both reportedly involved in flipping Underwood.
The recruitment is important for Michigan, considering the difficulties the program has had in the quarterback position this season. In addition to Underwood, the Wolverines added veteran quarterback Mikey Keene from the transfer portal. While Underwood is expected to be the starter, Keene’s wealth of college football experience will be important to establish him in the role.