There’s something captivating about a QB1 competition in Ann Arbor—especially when the name Bryce Underwood is part of the equation. Sherrone Moore and team knew it wasn’t just adding a five-star QB when Underwood flipped from LSU to the Wolverines—they were welcoming a phenomenon. The No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class has already taken over the narrative. Add in injured transfer Mikey Keene, who’s expected to push for reps once healthy, and you’ve got yourself a crowded, if not combustible, quarterback room. But it’s the man not named Bryce or Mikey who’s become the real subplot of this offseason.
Sophomore quarterback Jadyn Davis—the $533K man. Once seen as Michigan’s future under center, Davis has quickly found himself becoming the forgotten piece. After taking the brunt of the attention last spring, his profile dimmed the moment Bryce Underwood arrived. And with whispers of portal temptation growing louder, HC Sherrone Moore was left with no choice but to lean into some classic damage control.
Speaking to J.D. PicKell on On3, Head Coach Sherrone Moore candidly discussed Michigan’s QB battle, seemingly aware that keeping Davis in maize and blue might be as important as finding this year’s starter. “I’m excited to see what happens in the spring game and excited to see how it rolls into the summer and in fall camp,” Moore said. “All those guys have—you know, I’d say Jadyn Davis has really taken huge steps this fall camp and played really more confident, and you can see the glimpses of things that he did in high school really show up in spring ball. So been proud of his progress and what he’s done and made the competition even better.”
That’s a far cry from what insiders have said in recent weeks, where Davis has been described as the “other guy” behind Underwood and even a portal risk. Yet Moore’s tone was that of a coach who isn’t ready to let go of a thrower who, just a year ago, was being groomed to lead the offense. In Davis, Michigan has a quarterback who knows the playbook, has put in the work, and hasn’t flinched even when the hype around him shifted elsewhere. But in today’s CFB era, praise alone doesn’t keep a QB happy. Not when NIL money and opportunity are pulling in every direction.
Even with Bryce Underwood drawing comparisons to elite freshmen of past years, Sherrone Moore made it clear: the competition is alive, and Davis is part of it. His words echoed not just support, but a strategic reassurance to a quarterback who still holds value in this program. While Davis may be considering his options behind closed doors, Moore’s public stance felt intentional. It wasn’t just a vote of confidence—it was a calculated message, both to Davis and to the locker room. Keep competing. Don’t check out yet.
As for Underwood, Moore’s comments made it clear the five-star QB has done everything right since stepping on campus. But they also showed a level of caution, refraining from crowning him before the process concluded. “He’s been outstanding,” Moore said. “He’s one of those kids that you got to pull back. You got to tell him to get some rest, make sure you’re sleeping, the recovery piece, because he’s just a worker and he never stops. He wants to be the best; he’ll do anything to be the best. He’s a great teammate, great young man. Foundation of his parents that they set for him has been awesome. He does everything at an elite level on and off the field, so just excited for him and for us as the future goes.” That’s the hallmark of a coach trying to balance development and hype.
The ongoing quarterback saga is emblematic of a broader shift. Loyalty is fragile, depth is hard to maintain, and the portal looms over every position battle. What Moore faces now isn’t just a battle between two quarterbacks; it’s a test of his ability to manage egos, expectations, and the emotional economy of a high-stakes program entering a new era. With Keene still sidelined and Davis continuing to push through spring, Saturday’s game may offer clarity—or further chaos.
Michigan’s battle under center set to go deep into fall
Spring ball is wrapping up in Ann Arbor, but don’t expect any fireworks just yet when it comes to naming Michigan’s starting QB. Sherrone Moore is playing the long game—and that means no QB1 reveal until deep into fall camp.
Mikey Keene arrived in Ann Arbor with an impressive track record, having thrown for over 8,000 yards and 65 touchdowns across 39 games, including a strong two-year stint at Fresno State, where he completed 68.7% of his passes for 5,868 yards and 42 touchdowns. With Michigan quarterbacks Alex Orji entering the transfer portal and Jack Tuttle out of eligibility, Keene joins a battle that includes freshman Bryce Underwood and sophomore Jadyn Davis, but Coach Moore is taking his time to assess the situation.
“I feel like it usually carries into fall camp, all the real good battles that I’ve been a part of,” he told On3. “You can say something in spring, but then it changes.” Nothing’s set in stone.
Moore emphasized how critical this decision is: “That person is going to have the ball in their hands every single play and make so many decisions.” So yeah, he’s not throwing darts at a depth chart. He added, “We’ll probably go into fall camp, and then the prior week before the first game, make a decision and make the announcement then.” Saturday’s spring game should give us our first real taste—especially of Underwood—but the real QB drama is still months away.
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