People aren’t buying into the No. 1 overall player tag anymore! Did Michigan go too far with NIL money when they flipped Bryce Underwood? Bad things have happened in the past when highly paid and touted players fall below everyone’s expectations. As Sports Illustrated’s senior writer Pat Forde said, “Bryce Underwood may be the next great quarterback but we’ve heard that a lot of times from a lot of people.” But does that necessarily mean it’ll be the case with Sherrone Moore’s new crown jewel?

In a video by Yahoo Sports on Instagram on December 4, Pat Forde joined columnists Dan Wetzel and Ross Dellenger to discuss the reality of the growth of NIL. Hitting on the million dollar Bryce Underwood offer, Wetzel said, “It’s actually a pressure on Bryce Underwood. They’re gonna pay $2 million bucks for kids out of the portal. The kid is worth it. I saw, like Dick Vitale and a lot of people saying ‘this is an absurd offer’ and it’s like do the numbers, man. They didn’t have a quarterback this year, and Michigan went 7-5. If he gets you to 10 wins, he’s worth it. Easy.”

Easier said than done! If you were bought at a million dollar price tag, you’d understand the pressure of performing up to your worth. And that’s going to be the case for Bryce Underwood for the $10.5M offer that Sherrone Moore used to lure him to Ann Arbor. He’s going to be their freshman starter in 2025, and heavy pressure will fall on him as many would view him as a game-changer who can transform the 7-5 program. But as Forde already pointed out, things can take drastic turns. 

Bryce Underwood is the 2023 Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year, leading Bellville to back-to-back state titles in his first two years. The No. 1 QB of the 2025 class finished his high school with a school record of 163 total touchdowns, making him the unrivaled play caller and a potential game changer for any program. We don’t know what lies in store for him over the next season, but hopefully he would be the best decision that Sherrone Moore made amidst his elite 2025 recruiting class.

Sherrone Moore continues to win in recruitment

The millions worth Bryce Underwood offer may not be the only big money play by Michigan for their 2025 recruiting season. According to Michigan insider EJ Holland, “the same people that were involved in the Bryce Underwood NIL deal” could be trying to lure 5-star OT Ty Haywood in a similar way. If Sherrone Moore could flip this Alabama commit who announced that he’ll be signing late, it would be a huge boost to their 2025 recruiting class.

Michigan currently ranks 7th in the nation with 21 commits, as per On3. They boast a 5-star QB and OT in Bryce Underwood and Andrew Babalola, 13 4-star players, and six 3-star players. The Wolverines may have fallen in the trenches with the national champion tag, but perhaps this season is a preparation for a strong winning foundation in Michigan.