Urban Meyer Teases Bryce Underwood 'Intel', Reveals 'Issue' with Michigan QB amid Struggles

Urban Meyer says Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham believes in Bryce Underwood but that the Wolverines quarterback has struggled because he is physically "underdeveloped." Meyer discussed what he sees as opinions held by Whittingham, with whom Meyer worked on Utah's coaching staff, after Underwood struggled in Saturday's season-opening win over Western Michigan. "I have more intel than most, because I'm very close with the Wolverines head coach," Meyer said around the 11:50 mark of the Triple Option podcast with Mark Ingram II and Rob Stone. "He expressed, first of all, he loves Bryce Underwood. A lot of times, you'll coach a player that's just resistant to coaching, that's just a pain in the ass. That's not what's going on there. "His issue is spatial awareness, going through progressions and then executing, which is a normal progression for a young quarterback." Meyer went on to reference the changes in Michigan's coaching staff during Underwood's two seasons with the program. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey reportedly served in a dual role coaching quarterbacks last season under Sherrone Moore. Whittingham then hired dedicated quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. ahead of the 2026 campaign. "The problem is, he was thrust into a starting environment last year with chaos going on all around him," Meyer said about Underwood. "Someone said he didn't have a quarterback coach... never heard of that, especially when you pay a guy $7 million." Meyer concluded, "Coach Whit really loves this kid. Says he's got an incredible future. But he's also underdeveloped as far as just physically." Underwood struggled with turnover chances and threw an interception before leading Michigan to a season-opening win Saturday thanks to a controversial Hail Mary. MICHIGAN HAIL MARY TO WIN GAME 00:27 Whittingham told reporters after the game Underwood was still the Wolverines' starting quarterback but that his leash as QB1 "not something that's infinite." "He's a big-time talent with his arm talent and his ability to run, and we're just going to stay the course for right now," Whittingham said Monday. "But again, there does come a time for everybody at some point where you've got to look at maybe an alternative if you're not getting what you need."