Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood got the highest of praise before a critical non-conference Week 2 matchup with the SEC’s Oklahoma Sooners from Gaylord Memorial in Norman.
The 5-star freshman out of Belleville was given the distinction of already being the “single best freshman ever in college football” on FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff. Wolverines superfan and first-year Big Noon contributor Dave Portnoy gave him the potential kiss-of-death prediction.
“I've sat with Urban [Meyer], I've sat with all the quarterbacks, they're drooling about this guy, Bryce Underwood. They can't believe what they're seeing on tape. He's like the supernova,” Portnoy said.
“I hope they use his legs. He didn't run at all last week. I think they're saving it for this week. I think he might be the single best freshman ever in college football. I like Michigan tonight.”
Urban Meyer was right there to temper the expectations a bit. Still, Meyer acknowledged Underwood’s dominant debut against the New Mexico Lobos in a 34-17 Week 1 win in Ann Arbor.
He evoked three legendary names from his Florida Gators and Ohio State Buckeyes tenures to describe what he sees in Underwood.
“Ever is a big word, but what I saw is what I saw. I made a comment, and I had a couple of them, like a Percy Harvin, [Tim] Tebow or a Zeke Elliott, when you see that cat and you're like, ‘My gosh.’ I saw that last week against New Mexico.”
Meyer was consistent in praise he shared earlier in the week on FS1’s The Herd, when he compared Underwood to Percy Harvin and Cam Newton.
“I went back and watched every snap. My God, I mean, that’s a junior in college, and he’s really not. His physical presence is Cam Newton-ish. His size, his athleticism — I mean, spectacular,” Meyer said on The Herd, per On3.
“Day 1, he might be that guy that walks on campus — like when I had Percy Harvin — you’re just like, ‘That’s an absolute freak. Get him ready to play as fast you can.’ I’ve heard that about him. Now, that you saw it in person, that’s legit.”
Many are seeing greatness in Underwood, to varying degrees based on Wolverine fandom.