3 thoughts as Michigan football lands bridge quarterback Mikey Keene

Michigan football finally landed its bridge quarterback from the transfer portal on Monday as former UCF and Fresno State starting quarterback Mikey Keene has committed to the Wolverines.

Keene posted a commitment announcement on social media. He visited Michigan football over the weekend after the Wolverines hosted former Toledo and Baylor quarterback DeQuan Finn for a visit.

Finn was a better fit in the eyes of some. The former MAC MVP probably had more upside. Yet, he was limited to just three games last season and Keene did lead the Mountain West in passing yards last season (2,892 yards). He also had 18 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions.

For his career, Keene, who is 5-foot-11, has 8,245 passing yards, 65 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, a career completion percentage of 67.8, and a yards-per-pass average of seven. Here are three thoughts on his commitment to Michigan football.

The best option

Like other Michigan football fans, I preferred Dequan Finn or Billy Edwards. But Edwards felt better about the situation with Wisconsin and Michigan seemed to prefer Keene over Finn.

There could be a few reasons for that. My sense is that the familiarity with new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey was a big factor. Keene played under Lindsey for a season at UCF and was the starting quarterback before getting injured. Keene knows the offense, is a proven college quarterback, and can help Bryce Underwood get familiar with the offense.

Keene isn't a superstar. He's not going to be First-Team All-Big Ten but he is a known quantity and he will upgrade the pass offense immediately.

This will feel like 2021

The addition of Keene tells me that Bryce Underwood is going to play next season, a lot. That doesn't mean that he will start a game, but I do think a Cade McNamara-J.J. McCarthy time split like we saw in 2021 is possible, even likely.

Underwood has elite arm talent. However, some forget that his 247 Sports player comparison is Vince Young. That's because the dude can run, just like J.J. McCarthy (probably better). Michigan football limited McCarthy's runs, especially after he became the full-time starter, but it was a weapon.

Underwood will probably have a package similar to that of McCarthy. You'll see it expand as the season goes along and depending how the season goes, Underwood could see more playing time as the season progresses.

For McCarthy, that 2021 season was critical for his development. He played in every Big Ten game and had multiple Big Ten games with a rushing and passing touchdown, including the win at Wisconsin (and Maryland). McCarthy also had a touchdown pass against Michigan State.

Underwood should have a similar role and hopefully, it will yield similar results. The 2021 team was able to rebound after a disappointing season and McCarthy played a role in that, while also preparing to take over as the full-time starter, which he did in 2022.

Keene will start the first game, but not the last

I have zero doubt that Mikey Keene will be the starting quarterback for Michigan football against New Mexico in the season opener. Yet, I have a feeling that Bryce Underwood will be the man under center for the Ohio State game.

Keene was brought in as a bridge quarterback. He's presumed to be the starter but nothing is guaranteed. His job is to hold down the fort until Underwood is ready and if that time comes in November then it will be time for Keene to step aside.

If the Wolverines are in the playoff race or if the season is going like it did in 2021, then maybe Keene will continue to start while Underwood gets his feet wet coming off the bench.

Yet, Underwood is the most highly-touted recruit to ever sign with Michigan football. He's more polished than McCarthy and more phscially ready at 6-foot-5 to take on the Big Ten right away.

Underwood is a phenom and my prediction is that like Trevor Lawrence at Clemson back in the day, Underwood will take over the job at some point during his freshman season and never look back.