Michigan football QB Bryce Underwood works out at a private throwing session
Michigan football QB Bryce Underwood works out at a private throwing session in Detroit
LAS VEGAS — Leave it to the former signal-caller to keep a close eye on the quarterback competition.
Max Bredeson – who Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore called the “heartbeat” of the team at his podium availability at Big Ten football media days at Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Thursday, July 24 − certainly didn’t trash-talk the Wolverines’ 2024 QBs, but there was an underlying tone of optimism from the tight end and fullback, looking forward to the 2025 group.
The Wolverines feature six quarterbacks overall, with a starter yet to be named; the competition is expected to come down to three: true freshman Bryce Underwood, grad transfer Mikey Keene (Fresno State) and fifth-year Jake Garcia (East Carolina), a late summer addition. The others: Davis Warren, last year’s main starter, who’s coming off a torn ACL and likely won’t be ready for the start of the year; sophomore Jadyn Davis, who underwhelmed in the spring game; and true freshman Chase Herbstreit.
Bredeson, who was the offense’s lone representative in Vegas, already has some thoughts on the unit’s bond.
“Extremely comfortable with how everyone’s been preparing,” he said. “That battle, it’s a real battle. And it’s a very close-knit room which is always important − our best rooms have been very close no matter who’s playing.
“So, excited to watch them compete this camp and we’ll see who comes out on top.”
The competition will officially begin on Wednesday, July 30 – the Wolverines’ first day of fall camp.
As far as Underwood, there’s little that’s left to cover: Coaches, teammates and seemingly everyone within the program have been effusive with their praise of the true freshman, a five-star recruit from Belleville, since Day 1. At his podium session, Bredeson detailed the process the 17-year-old has gone through to earn the trust of the team.
There’s no moment Bredeson can put a finger on, he said. It’s not about saying the right things one time, or doing the right things another. It’s simply the daily action of work − the process Underwood detailed to the Free Press earlier this summer that now has him with an 11 p.m. curfew at U-M’s practice facility because he had a tendency to work out too late.
Bredeson called them “real habits,” later adding that Underwood is “wise beyond his years” in how he practices.
While some of have questioned whether a teenager can truly lead the Wolverines, Bredeson pointed back to the quarterback he came to Ann Arbor with in 2021 and how he made big plays soon after getting the starting job.
“Whoever’s taking the snap, I’m happy with,” he said. “Couldn’t care about age. I mean, same thing with J.J. (McCarthy) – as a freshman, he took real snaps in real big games. It’s a different dynamic with who’s in the room.
“But I would have no fear with a freshman taking it, or a seventh-year taking it.”
Keene isn’t a seventh-year, but he is entering his fifth season of college football – the most experience of anybody among U-M QBs, with 2,029 snaps (according to Moore).
Keene also has experience with new Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, starting in the 2022 season at UCF under him. That bond, and the know-how to operate Lindsey’s system, could give him a headstart for U-M’s starting nod.
Still, Keane missed all of spring with an injury, which seemingly left U-M without a proven QB. Enter Garcia, who’s been in college since 2021; that included the 2023 season at Missouri and 2021-22 with Miami (Florida) before last year’s stint at ECU.
Now, on his fourth program in five years, he’s out to prove why he was a top-50 recruit in 2021 and the No. 8 quarterback in the nation per 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
“Seems like every quarterback we bring in has played a lot of football,” Bredeson said jokingly. “Been around a lot of football, seen different games − it’s never a bad thing to have more experience in a room.”
But perhaps the most poignant point came from Derrick Moore. The senior edge has learned to read quarterbacks’ demeanor and watch their interactions with one another.
This year’s QB competition looks like one that can bring the best out of everybody, Moore suggested.
“Just like, competitiveness,” Moore said. “You don’t see anybody down talking anybody or anything − you almost wouldn’t even think there’s a quarterback battle going on with how close them guys are, but they all stick together.
“They compete, give each other advice and work hard.”
Tony Garcia is the Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
HOUGHTON COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — A Michigan State Police trooper who helped save a woman’s life during a medical emergency in August reunited with her this week, months after she survived sudden cardiac arrest at a Hancock-area campground.
Trooper Lucas Lahnala, assigned to the MSP Calumet Post, met Thursday, November 13, with Rosie Danley, the camper he helped revive in August after she collapsed without warning.
MSP said Rosie was camping with family when she went into sudden cardiac arrest and became unresponsive. Lahnala was on duty nearby and rushed to the scene, where he found Rosie’s son already attempting to help her. The trooper immediately began CPR and connected her to an AED. After several minutes of life-saving efforts, EMS arrived, took over care, and transported her to the hospital.
Although medics were able to regain her pulse, early signs pointed to a grim prognosis. But Rosie not only survived, she has since made a full recovery and is back to work as a nurse.
“I’m really happy I was able to be involved and help,” Lahnala said. “As troopers, we respond to emergencies every day, but moments like this remind us why we do what we do. Seeing Rosie healthy and smiling means everything.”
Rosie expressed her deep gratitude to everyone involved. “On behalf of myself, my husband, four kids and thirteen grandkids, I would like to thank Tpr. Lahnala for being one of my heroes,” she said. “He was a Godsend in my life on Aug. 5. God had a plan, and he is part of my miracle story.”
MSP Calumet Post Commander F/Lt. Jason Wickstrom praised Lahnala’s actions, calling them an example of the life-saving work law enforcement performs every day.
“It’s very rewarding when we can share a story that has such a positive outcome and meet the people we have helped,” he said.
The department extended its thanks to Rosie’s son, EMS crews, medical staff, and MSP dispatchers who assisted. MSP also wished Rosie and her family continued health moving forward.
Seven Michigan high school marching bands are competing this weekend at the Bands of America grand nationals competition.
The competition is held each year in Indianapolis, Ind., at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts.
More than 100 high school marching bands will compete Thursday and Friday in the preliminary round of competition, then the top 32 bands will move on to the semifinal round on Saturday.
Only the top 12 bands will get the chance to perform their competition shows one last time Saturday night in the finals. Members of all 12 bands that make finals will receive medals for their accomplishments. The prize for the best band in the nation is a coveted eagle-shaped trophy.
On Thursday, three Michigan bands were scheduled to take the field throughout the day, including Huron Valley’s band at 9:45 a.m., Mt. Pleasant at 4:45 p.m. and Tri County at 8:30 p.m.
Friday, four more Michigan bands will perform in preliminary competition. Those ensembles are back-to-back state champions Walled Lake at 1:15 p.m., Rockford at 3 p.m., state champion Jenison at 4:30 p.m. and Plymouth-Canton at 6 p.m.
Additionally, the Michigan State University Spartan Marching Band will be performing in exhibition at the competition at 8:45 p.m. Friday night. The Spartan Marching Band will be performing a show of popular Broadway hits.
The Michigan high school bands will be competing against marching bands from states including Texas, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, and, for only the second time ever, Alaska.
Marching bands will be judged on their music, their marching, their visual storytelling and more. Each band has been working since the early summer to perfect their 8-12 minute show, often featuring choreography, complex themes, props, costume changes and more.
To watch a livestream of the Bands of America Grand Nationals competition, visit the event website here. It is a paid livestream, with costs depending on which day and round of competition. To watch Thursday or Friday prelims, it is $20 per day. It costs $27 to watch semifinals on Saturday and another $32 to watch finals. To watch all rounds of competition, viewers can buy a $68 package.
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Washtenaw County residents protest Michigan Medicine’s overhaul on gender-affirming care
ANN ARBOR, MI — JJ McKillop, leader of the LGBTQ+ teenage group True Hope, was willing to bear about 45-degree temperatures Wednesday in Ann Arbor to protest her alma mater.
McKillop, a parent of a transgender child and 1994 graduate of the University of Michigan, said she is “ashamed” by Michigan Medicine’s August decision to end gender-affirming care for minors.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
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