Michigan football flips Belleville’s Bryce Underwood, nation’s No. 1 recruit, from LSU

Michigan football has pulled off the biggest recruiting flip in its history.

Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines were able to secure a commitment from Belleville star quarterback Bryce Underwood on Thursday afternoon ahead of their matchup with Northwestern this weekend, with Underwood announcing the news on social media.

“Hometown. Hero,” the caption for the post from Underwood simply said.

Moore also seemingly confirmed the news on social media, while avoiding a direct comment.

“YES SIR! The Best players in Michigan go to Michigan,” Moore said Thursday.

Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, and coming out of Belleville High School, originally pledged to the Tigers back in January, less than one week before the Wolverines claimed the national championship.

Over the last few months as Michigan’s quarterback situation fell apart, the Wolverines conducted a full-court press to keep Underwood in the state and after a roller coaster ride, it appears to have worked.

As late as last week, Underwood was believed by many to be headed to LSU, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Free Press at the time.

Underwood, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound dual-threat passer even took to social media last Thursday night to share a post indicating he had turned down Michigan’s reported massive Name, Image and Likeness package worth roughly $10 million per year, saying “the No. 1 overall prospect … is unlikely to accept Michigan’s lucrative NIL offer,” but the post was eventually deleted.

The post came roughly a week after Underwood took a visit to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Nov. 9 to watch the Tigers play Alabama — a game the Crimson Tide won easily, 42-13.

As of last week, Michigan had offered a four-year NIL deal worth nearly $10 million over four year, including win-based and championship-based incentives.

At this time, it’s not clear if the Wolverines and their collective increased their offer, if Underwood had a change of heart or something else.