Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Jan 53 min
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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
Here we geaux.....a pick we've had in since mid November, the #1 QB in America, Bryce Underwood will make his move to either LSU, Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State or Florida State....and tomorrow, January 6th will be the decision day for the Michigan-native.
Despite watching his home-state Wolverines surge into a "CFP Playoff perennial" over the past few seasons under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, Underwood's attention and visits tell a whole different story than a simple surface examination.
Narrowly missing out on his 3rd straight state championship among Michigan's Division I (winning the last two in 2022 and 2021), Underwood has thrown over 2,500 yards, 35+ touchdowns and rushed for 6+ rushing scores in each of his 3 seasons, now Bryce is eclipsing all of his prior on-field production:
Winning the Gatorade Michigan Football Player of the Year, Bryce registered another campaign of incredible numbers, insatiable growth, and nonstop victories:
Underwood tossed 3,329 passing yards, 41 TD passes with only 4 interceptions, recording 4 games of 300+ passing yards, as well as another 5 appearances where Belleville's QB completed 80% of his passes or higher. Displaying his dual threat prowess, the future Tiger also added 7 rushing scores, averaging 6.6 per rush.
Still, why would a QB from Michigan, during a season where Jim Harbaugh has sent the Wolverines back to the top of college football, want to move down to Baton Rouge and become a Tiger?
Simple.....through the prism of Jayden Daniels' Heisman-winning, record-breaking 2023 season, alongside their elite stable of quarterbacking talents, Bryce can see the trajectory of LSU's very bright future at the QB position.
Sure, the Daniels Heisman will go a long way to securing Underwood....but it's not necessary, and it's not even really on Bryce's mind as he makes his decision, not after Underwood witnessed Jayden's season-long growth and extreme development under QBs Coach Joe Sloan, offensive specialist Dean Petzing and Head Coach Brian Kelly.
Daniels arrived at LSU in need of guidance....his career needed a kickstart to the heart.
LSU were desperate for a quarterback, a leader, a young man who could accept criticism, who could learn from his mistakes and become that steam-breathing game-changer from year 1 to year 2.
I'm told Underwood is intrigued by Daniels' story, alongside LSU's peerless QB brand over recent years, telling a source close to the family: "they have 2 Heisman winners in 4 years, and the 2 best to ever do it there"....
"Bryce wants an SEC legacy," I was later told by a coach of Underwood's. "He believes they can develop him the best."
We could see the QBU trajectory of Joe Sloan's room (as well as his potential move to offensive coordinator) become a big selling point, but remember, this is a move from the Northern-most state clear down to Baton Rouge.....a move that almost never materializes.
However, Bryce has a few key Michigan examples to call upon when wondering about how Midwesterners acclimate to Baton Rouge, including 2 current Tigers: starting OL Garrett Dellinger, 2022 starting OL, 2019 National Champion Anthony Bradford, and kicker Nathan Dibert.
Throughout his visit in the summer, I was told "he's a lot more into LSU than people think" by every source I've dealt with; Now, as I talk more with player and family, it appears there's strong truth to that assertion as certain dominos begin to fall into place:
Another 2025 signal caller, highly-rated 4 star Carter Smith, just committed to Michigan....plus, for anyone poo-pooing the idea of Underwood at LSU, I say this:
The Tigers were able to pull off multiple Underwood visits this cycle, both in the summer & fall, while Bryce lives literally 15 minutes away from Michigan's campus and hasn't visited once during a season of major program fanfare.......
PICK: UNDERWOOD TO LSU
Why I feel the #1 2025 QB will be a Tiger?
Because if I'm a quarterback with the background & skill-set of Jayden Daniels, Rickie Collins, Colin Hurley, or Bryce Underwood, I see how Sloan, Petzing, BK & LSU's massive program resources maximized Jayden Daniels' abilities, while their social media machine & creative department heightened his visibility to fans & NFL scouts, making damn sure Daniels' every move was documented in the most stunning way possible, branding him as a college football icon before the world and helping JD5 win the Heisman.
I want that kind of representation.
I want to be part of that kind of program.
I want that kind of development.
I want to play for those guys.
I want to make plays on the biggest stages possible.....and here we are, let's geaux.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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