Michigan football in top two for 5-star QB, plus Zaquan Patterson projected to Florida State

Michigan football is one of the top contenders for five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, plus a negative projection for Zaquan Patterson. 

One of the most positive things to happen for Michigan football recently was the fact that five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood visited for the recruiting BBQ.

That was essential for the Wolverines. Underwood actually visited the next day two, which might have helped to stem some of the momentum that LSU has been building.

Underwood has said that he will announce a commitment in early January, so the fact that Michigan football is among the top two programs right now in his recruitment, according to EJ Holland of The Wolverine, is a pretty big deal.

Here’s what Holland said about where Michigan football stands with Underwood this week:

"“I think [Michigan is] top two right now with LSU,” Wolverine.com insider EJ Holland said Thursday. “That was one of the biggest storylines coming out of July just a couple of weeks ago. Or about a month ago now. He made two unofficial visits — one to LSU and one to Michigan. He had a multi-day visit to LSU, spent some time in Baton Rouge around Brian Kelly and that staff. And then immediately came back home and made an unofficial visit for the last day of the BBQ at the Big House, which is Michigan’s annual big recruiting event at the end of July.”"

Holland indicated that the threat for Underwood, who is the No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class out of Belleville, Michigan, to leave for a team like LSU is real. Yet, Kirk Campbell and Michigan football have done a great job of working their way back into the mix, but Harbaugh is the guy who will need to wrap this up, according to Holland: 

"“It’s going to come down to Jim Harbaugh. He’s the head coach, he’s the guy who played quarterback at Michigan, who played quarterback in the league. And he’s going to have to personally win this recruitment for the Wolverines. And I think Jim has done a fantastic job.”"

We’ll see if Underwood visits for a game or two this fall, but the recruitment is at a key point and the Wolverines really need to make sure they keep Underwood home in Michigan.

Zaquan Patterson projected to Florida State

Things haven’t been looking great for Zaquan Patterson. The Florida State Seminoles have been trending up and got a new expert projection from On3’s Sam Spiegelman who projected the top-100 defensive back to Florida State on Thursday.

You could kind of see it coming. Michigan has struggled to close recently and Florida State has been on fire on the recruiting trail.

It’s a bummer but it makes sense and I wouldn’t expect Patterson to choose Michigan when he announces his commitment on Saturday.