The Athletic ranks Michigan QB Bryce Underwood low

There has been a lot of bloviating about Bryce Underwood this offseason from regional types, that even the national types are starting to sell. And this comes after Michigan football managed to bring in Kyle Whittingham and Jason Beck, who may not have produced top QB talent just yet, but showed they can get a lot more out of their quarterbacks than what true freshman Underwood did a year ago.

>Yet, The Athletic has little faith.

>In fairness, in The Athletic's quarterback tier ranking, Underwood came in at No. 31 overall among all 138 projected starters at the position. But he also was in Tier Four, listed as such:

Some of the stars of tomorrow, like inexperienced QBs who coaches believe in but lack a proven resume, and there are also veterans who are looking to redeem themselves and journeymen looking to make the most of their last stops.

In the ranking, Underwood was listed behind Maryland's Malik Washington and Pitt's Mason Heintschel, both of whom were also true freshmen last year, with Washington having a slightly better statistical year, while Heintschel had a worse one, mostly.

>Here's what The Athletic said about Underwood:

There was a ton of hype surrounding Underwood entering last season as the No. 1 recruit in his class, but the play didn’t match the buzz. He was just a true freshman, and Michigan’s dysfunctional coaching situation didn’t help matters. He has all the physical tools to become a special QB, but it’ll be on a new coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Jason Beck, to optimize that ability.

>“If you drew up an athlete, they would look like (him),” a Big Ten assistant coach said. “Big, strong, fast, put together the right way. Mechanics and natural feel not to the level of the other guys (at the top of the league), but he has elite talent for sure.”

Though there may be consternation among the Michigan fan base about Underwood, it's one thing to wonder when you're close to the situation whether or not he'll reach expectations. But to act like he's in a lesser tier (or two) than other second-year quarterbacks is, essentially, inane. Especially considering how Sherrone Moore treated the quarterback position in his two years at the helm of the maize and blue.

>It's unclear whether or not Underwood will match his former No. 1 overall ranking. But there are next-to-no college coaches who wouldn't take him over the field of second-year quarterbacks in a heartbeat.

>This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: The Athletic ranks Michigan QB Bryce Underwood low