With the wheel of chaos the Michigan Wolverines have gone through over the last month, there seems to be some clarity regarding the program's direction at quarterback.
According to new Wolverines coach Kyle Whittingham, who brought over former Utah Utes offensive coordinator Jason Beck for next season, quarterback Bryce Underwood's return to the Wolverines this fall is all but inevitable.
“I think Bryce is in a good place right now, and I think we might be getting an announcement here pretty soon,” Whittingham said on "Wake Up Barstool." “He seems to really enjoy his time here. Has enjoyed his time here, and he’s one of the team leaders."
Whittingham said, "You never know until it's a done deal," implying there may be extra incentive Underwood is requesting should he decide to stay in Michigan.
If he does, though, Whittingham said a plan is in motion for Underwood to thrive this season.
“You gotta have a quarterback [that has] the ‘it’ factor," Whittingham said. "And Bryce has the ‘it’ factor, and along with a ton of talent, big, strong kids, 6-foot-4, 225-plus pounds and so his ceiling is very high. The offense we’re going to bring in here, I think, is going to suit him to a ‘T,’ and I think he’s going to really, really excel and have a great experience here.”
The Wolverines finished the season with a loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, failing to reach the College Football Playoff for the second straight season.
But, expectations appear to be different, Whittingham said this past Friday at a Wolverines men's basketball game.
"First of all, how about Coach Dusty May and this Michigan Wolverine basketball team?” Whittingham said. “What a team. What a great job Coach May has done. It’s an honor to be the 22nd head football coach at the University of Michigan. Blessed to be here. Can’t wait to get started. The first order of business was to assemble a great assistant coaching staff. We’ve got one or two more to add, but otherwise, this is the group that’ll be coaching the young men this spring, this fall."
Whittingham did usher in his first culture change, too: togetherness.
“I can say for sure that we’re going to be a physical football team. … It’s going to be an exciting offense," Whittingham added. "Coach Beck has done a great job everywhere he’s been. Coach Jay Hill, our defensive coordinator. I’ll tell you right now, our goal every Saturday is to go 1-0. That’s our goal at Michigan.”
Retaining Underwood would be a good first step towards a clean restart and a reset of what expectations should look like for the Wolverine.
Only time will tell, though.