Michigan Wolverines to Continue Pursuit of Transfer QB Despite 5-Star QB Flip, Per Report

Despite the commitment from Underwood, the Wolverines are still expected to try and land a QB in the transfer portal this offseason, Zenitz says. 

"There is too much uncertainty and disappointment in Michigan's current QB room -- which started three players this season, to varying degrees of disappointment -- to not do so," Zenitz writes. 

Since their national championship win in January, Michigan has struggled to a 5-5 record in 2024, with inconsistent quarterback play being a key issue. The Wolverines rotated through Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, and Davis Warren, none of whom provided the stability needed under center.

So while Underwood may end up being the long-term answer that Michigan needs to get back to playing at a championship level, they aren't going to choose to put all of their eggs in that basket right away. 

"The hope is to land a veteran, bridge option figure who can both compete with Underwood for the starting job next year and be an additional person for him to learn under as he prepares to be the Wolverines' quarterback of the future," Zenitz added. 

This move wouldn't be surprising, since it's something that we see happen at the NFL level every year. While teams draft rookie QBs early in the first round, they often also choose to put a veteran play-caller in place as well to handle the load while the rookie gets up to speed. The best example of this is Alex Smith, who played for a year ahead of Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs while the future Hall of Famer learned the offense and waited in the wing. 

While Michigan may take a similar approach with Underwood, his elite talent as the No. 1 player in the 2025 class could make him a strong contender for the starting role from day one.