Bryce Underwood Retains QB1 Spot as Tommy Carr Gets Reps With First Team Offense

Despite growing outside chatter and calls for potential changes during the bye week, Kyle Whittingham made Michigan’s quarterback hierarchy crystal clear. Bryce Underwood remains the starting quarterback for the Wolverines as the team prepares to navigate the back half of the regular schedule.

Addressing the media directly, Whittingham broke down exactly why the staff retains total trust in Underwood despite the recent offensive hiccups. At 6-4 and 230 pounds, Underwood brings a rare physical skill set to the position. He runs exceptionally well, possesses a powerhouse arm capable of making every throw on the field, and holds valuable starting experience from last season alongside his five starts this year. When evaluating the entire quarterback room, Whittingham firmly stated that Underwood gives Michigan the absolute best chance to win football games.

That endorsement does not mean the backup situation is being ignored. Backup quarterback Tommy Carr received a substantial workload over the bye week, taking roughly half of the reps with the first team offense during practice sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Whittingham explained that splitting primary reps during an open date is standard protocol designed to develop depth across the entire depth chart. However, Tommy’s strong performance during practice has caught the eye of the coaching staff. Tommy looked sharp in practice, building on the positive flashes he showed in limited game action earlier in the year.

While Bryce is firmly established as the starter, Whittingham left the door open for creative personnel usage moving forward. If the coaching staff determines that giving Tommy a specific series or targeted package boosts the overall team's chances of winning, they will not hesitate to deploy him in upcoming contests.

Part of the challenge for the quarterback room has been adapting to coordinator Jason Beck’s offensive system, which leans heavily on a physical ground game while searching for aerial balance. The offense utilizes extra big body blockers in the running game and protection schemes, which naturally places more emphasis on generating explosive plays through a condensed passing tree. Outside of wideouts Andrew Marsh and Jamarion Stubbs, the offense is still working to maximize its options across the board.

Whittingham noted that Beck’s scheme has proven highly productive over many years, but success ultimately hinges on executing the plays as called without giving the ball away. As Michigan prepares for its next matchup, the focus remains on tailoring the game plan to fit Underwood’s obvious strengths while ensuring the entire offense operates with crisp execution and ball security.