ANN ARBOR — Former NFL All-Pro safety Eric Weddle criticized Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s passing ability following the team’s 2026 spring practice. Weddle, a 14-year NFL veteran and 2026 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, questioned Underwood’s readiness to play quarterback after observing his performance during spring ball.
“Mark my words, I was out there for spring ball. Don’t be surprised if the backup [Tommy Carr is] playing early because that Underwood kid, you know, I don’t think he could throw or play quarterback, so we’ll see.” Weddle said. He expanded on his concerns by emphasizing the importance of pocket presence and timely decision-making for quarterbacks. “I don’t understand, like, it’s just quarterbacks in general, but I don’t understand how the position is not being taught like from the pocket. Like I try to coach [my son] Gaige that you are a quarterback first who can be an athlete. You’re not an athlete who plays quarterback. You get to the next level, everyone’s as fast as you, everyone’s as strong as you, like your mind, processing, pocket awareness, feel and getting the ball out on time is what I’ve stressed to him most as a quarterback.”
Underwood, the nation’s top-ranked player in the class of 2025, completed 3 of 9 passes for 22 yards in Michigan’s 2026 spring game. In his freshman season in 2025, he threw for 2,428 yards with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions while completing 60.3% of his passes across 13 games. He also added 392 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. He recorded six games with fewer than 200 passing yards and posted an 86.4 passer rating with two touchdowns and four interceptions against ranked opponents.
Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham defended Underwood, stating he remains the team’s clear No. 1 quarterback. “Bryce Underwood is the clear No. 1 quarterback for Michigan and that he progressed through spring ball.” Underwood, who stands 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 228 pounds, also expressed confidence in the team’s cohesion heading into the 2026 season. “We went through a lot, but I think we’re going to be more player-led this season. I feel like we are more of a team now.”
Underwood works with private quarterback coaches Donovan Dooley and Jordan Palmer. Michigan’s 2026 quarterback room also includes Tommy Carr, Chase Herbstreit, and Brady Smigiel. Entering the season, Underwood was ranked No. 23 among college quarterbacks by Bender and placed in Tier 5—labeled “The Christian Hackenberg Paradox”—by ESPN’s David Hale.