Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey on early impressions of Bryce Underwood, quarterback room

Michigan football’s offense was far from exciting in 2024, but the upcoming season is expected to be much different with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, and a quarterback room including the No. 1 recruit of 2025, Bryce Underwood.

Earlier this week, Lindsey discussed the state of the Wolverines quarterbacks.

Michigan OC Chip Lindsey shares spring thoughts on quarterbacks

Lindsey was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Carolina before joining the Wolverines under the same roles. With the Tar Heels, Lindsey helped develop quarterback Drake Maye into a third overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Lindsey said the grit of the maize and blue was a major part in his decision.

“… For me, the opportunity to be a part of a team that’s DNA is kind of what ours is: built on toughness and being physical,” Lindsey said of why he joined Michigan. “From my standpoint, I wanted to keep that DNA. When we first started talking about coming here, that’s why (head coach Sherrone Moore) and I hit it off so well.”

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Underwood is the highest-rated recruit in the history of Michigan football. He left Belleville High (Belleville, MI) with just about every award possible, and he began practicing with the Wolverines before the ReliaQuest Bowl in December. Lindsey said Underwood doesn’t mess around.

“So far I love his approach,” Lindsey said of Underwood. “He’s all business (and) loves football, that’s the most important thing. He really wants to be the best player he can be.”

Underwood isn’t the only new quarterback at Michigan, as it added Mikey Keene out of the transfer portal (Fresno State). The Wolverines also signed Chase Herbstreit (son of former OSU quarterback and ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit) from the 2025 class, and still have sophomore Jaydyn Davis.

Lindsey said the quarterbacks will be put to the test throughout the spring and summer.

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“… He’s very advanced physically, and I think for him, the speed of the game is always something you worry about coming into college compared to high school,” Lindsey said of Underwood. “And then how much can he handle? But really that goes with all of them. Jaydyn Davis has not played a whole lot. Mikey is here now, and he’s got some experience but not at this level here.

“It’s all going to be a lot of fun to kind of mix and match it and put them in those situations. I think our job this spring is to put those quarterbacks all in different positions and see how they react. When it’s a third down pressure day, who handles it the best? When it’s a redzone day, who does what we’re supposed to do? Who can manage the huddle? Who can connect with the team? At the end of the day it’s about who affects the other ten guys the best, I think that’s the guy that’s going to play.”

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