Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to quarterback development.
That's something that many college football fans, and even some analysts, have forgotten, particularly when it comes to Michigan football quarterback Bryce Underwood.
There's no debating that Underwood didn't meet expectations last season. However, he was an 18-year-old true freshman who didn't get much help from his coaching staff. He was thrown to the wolves, in a sense, but he still led Michigan to nine wins.
It wasn't the worst season by a freshman quarterback in college football history, as some are treating it, mostly Ohio State and Michigan State fans, as if the Spartans wouldn't kill to have Underwood as their starting quarterback.
Underwood certainly played better than Dante Moore did as a true freshman. He didn't even last the entire season as the starter, at UCLA. And this season, Underwood will have the luxury of a dedicated QB coach, a year of experience under his belt, and an offensive coordinator willing to play to his strengths, which also means letting Bryce run.
Still, questions are coming out of spring ball, especially after a rough showing in the spring game. During fall camp, the light has come on. Underwood was given an A+ by Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham for his performance this fall, and earlier this week, it was his best practice yet.
"He looked like he could have been playing for an NFL team. It was the best I've ever seen him look," Is what one source said, according to The Wolverine.com.
Bryce Underwood is turning heads at Michigan football fall camp
The performance by Underwood turned heads. The sophomore quarterback has looked much more comfortable throwing the ball in clips that have been published by Michigan football on social media.
There has also been plenty of positive buzz. It feels like J.J. McCarthy's sophomore season when things started to fall into place in his second fall camp. He became more consistent, cut down on the mistakes, and eventually won the starting job.
Underwood isn't competing with anyone, but it seems like he has turned a corner. If Michigan is going to reach the College Football Playoff, or have a chance to contend in the Big Ten conference, that is what needed to happen.
The season is two weeks away, but Michigan football fans should be excited about the continued development of Underwood, even as some try to write him off.
Add us as a preferred source on Google