Ratings
| * | Ovr | Pos | St | |
| 247Sports Composite | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 247Sports | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| On3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| ESPN | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rivals | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Vitals
| Hometown | Belleville (Mich.) |
| Projected Position | Quarterback |
| Height | 6-foot-4 |
| Weight | 205-pounds |
Recruiting Story
Hailing from Michigan football’s backyard, the Wolverines were behind on getting involved in Underwood’s recruitment from the jump. First, it was because of former quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss, and though Kirk Campbell made up some ground, it was too late, and Underwood ended up committing to LSU.
But the Wolverines stayed in contact, ramping things up after Sherrone Moore took over the program. Once the 2024 season started going off the rails, the program was able to galvanize the donors to make the biggest NIL pitch in history, managing to flip Underwood from the Tigers with just under two weeks until early signing day.
Readiness Level
As far as a recruit is concerned, Underwood is the highest-rated that Michigan has ever brought in. Though expected to see the field early and often in 2025, and could start on day one, the expectation is that the Wolverines will go after a transfer so that Underwood can take some time to develop. Either way, he could take the reins in year one and improves Michigan football immediately.
Notes
- Committed Nov. 21, 2024
- His teammate, Elijah Dotson, committed to Michigan football on Nov. 20, 2024
Scouting report
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.