Bryce Underwood has always had a gravitational pull. From the moment this five-star phenom flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan, the buzz around Ann Arbor shifted into hyperdrive. The spotlight followed, and with it came scrutiny, pressure, and the kind of media frenzy reserved for generational talents. Sherrone Moore knew the stakes when he landed Underwood. While it gave the Wolverines a jolt of electricity post-Jim Harbaugh, it also triggered a quiet shake-up behind the scenes. Beneath the Underwood headlines, their sophomore QB got pushed to the shadows.

That investment? $533K man Jadyn Davis. The former blue-chip recruit now finds himself standing directly in the eye of Michigan’s QB storm. Once touted as the future of the program, Davis is suddenly the “other guy” in every conversation. And now, according to On3’s Wolverine Online insider EJ Holland, Davis could be contemplating the exit ramp. “I mean, potentially,” Holland said. “He has been competing. You know, I think he showed a willingness to be competitive with Bryce Underwood this spring to try to make his own mark. At the same time, I think Jadyn Davis was a little more highly touted as a recruit than he probably should have been.”

That’s a sharp pivot for someone who just last year was framed as UM’s next in line. Holland wasn’t done. “I think maybe you could—if they do add another portal quarterback, especially if they add maybe a younger portal quarterback—maybe you could see Jadyn Davis hit the transfer portal,” he continued. “I think he knows the long-term solution at the quarterback position is Bryce Underwood.” It’s a reality that might sting, but one Davis likely sees clearly. Holland added, “They again would probably like to keep him because the quarterback room has no depth right now, and he’s been the only guy going through spring practices aside from Underwood. But that’s certainly a possibility. I wouldn’t rule out Jadyn Davis hitting the portal.”

The evaluation didn’t stop at depth chart dynamics—it got personal. Holland laid out the challenges Jadyn Davis still needs to overcome if he wants to stake his claim. “He has some physical limitations being a shorter quarterback who’s not exactly mobile. He still has a hitch in his throwing motion and kind of a longer windup, which obviously isn’t ideal in general, but definitely not ideal for a shorter quarterback who’s not super mobile.” That’s the kind of scouting report that gets whispered around draft war rooms, not public podcasts.

And yet, it highlights just how fine the margins are. “At the same time, he’s a high-IQ kid. He knows how to manage an offense. He played at Providence Day, has gotten really good quarterback training from guys like Will Grier and Cam Newton,” Holland added. “So he can be a safe, serviceable option, which Michigan would like to have in the quarterback room.” Still, the whispers around the program—and the expectations Davis carried in—might be too heavy to ignore. “In today’s era, especially with how touted he was as a recruit, I think guys want an opportunity to play right away,” Holland said. “And I’m not sure there’s a path for Davis to really be the guy at Michigan as long as Bryce Underwood’s on the roster.”

It’s hard to argue. Bryce Underwood’s presence doesn’t just cast a shadow; it defines the future. And for a player like Davis, being relegated to a backup plan may not be palatable for long. But even with the growing chatter, Michigan’s staff hasn’t conceded the battle. OC Chip Lindsey made sure to include Davis in the conversation leading up to the Spring Game. “You play football at this level, you understand it’s a competition every day, and you got to bring it every day, and you got to be focused and locked in,” Lindsey said.

“And some younger players struggle with that, but we’ll see. So far, Bryce has been great with that. Jadyn Davis has been excellent as well.” It was a subtle but important signal: the door’s not shut. At least, not yet. Still, in this new era where sentiment only goes so far, his chances of winning the job are alive and well.

Big bucks, bigger Bryce? Michigan’s $12M man shows up with extra padding

So… Bryce Underwood popped into the public eye, and let’s just say, the reactions were loud. The No. 1 QB in the country — who reportedly got a cool $12 million to commit to Michigan — is going viral… but not for throwing lasers or scrambling out of the pocket. Nope, it’s his physique that’s got people talking.

A Barstool Sports article wrote, “Bryce Underwood looks like he’s been eating good since Michigan paid him $12 million to commit there,”. And hey, when the brand accounts start chiming in with side-by-sides and hot takes, you know it’s a full-blown spectacle. The sound of it definitely looked like an Ohio State fan “Yikes. When’s the gender reveal, Bryce?” Oof. But it’s not all doom and donuts. The original poster clarified: “Let me be very clear: this is a bipartisan jaw drop.” Still, there’s faith: “I personally think he’s going to slim back down. I’m not concerned in the slightest.”

Heck, they even had jokes about game shape: “He’s going to get plenty of running in once we start going live in practice… from chasing down DBs that pick him off”. In short? Michigan fans are hopeful, but their $12 million QB is looking more like an O-lineman than a Heisman hopeful — for now.