The start of fall camp has been good to Michigan; well, the one day the team has been on the field was a positive one. With only one day together so far, there won't be a lot of negatives to talk about, as coaches are still diagnosing what needs to be worked on and any growing pains, but there are a few positives to highlight.
The biggest on being Bryce Underwood, who was one of the biggest storylines for Michigan football this offseason. Underwood is coming off a less-than-stellar first season, and when you are a former five-star No. 1 overall prospect, typically the pressure builds to improve and perform. Well, all offseason, Underwood has been working to improve multiple parts of his game, and offensive coordinator Jason Beck noticed one key improvement that was diagnosed back in the spring.
"When we left spring, we wanted to focus on certain things with his drop and his feet, and that looked good today," Beck said. "He’s been really working on that, focused on that. There’s been a lot going into it, and I hope we continue to see that."
NEW: Michigan OC Jason Beck said Bryce Underwood's mechanical adjustments were there on Day 1 of fall camp:
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) August 5, 2026
"When we left spring, we wanted to focus on certain things with his drop and his feet, and that looked good today."
More on that, and QB coaches:https://t.co/xSTUbVuDtT pic.twitter.com/12yBPz2r2z
Bryce Underwood needs to find consistency over flashy spurts for Michigan in 2026
That is great news about Underwood's footwork improving in the offseason. It isn't uncommon for a young quarterback to struggle with it; just look at Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who had to fix his footwork when he got to the NFL, so Underwood seems to be on a good track now.
This was only the first day, though, and if there is one thing that Underwood has to show going forward is consistency. It was clear in the 2025 season that Underwood had talent with the flashy plays he would show from time to time; spurts of talent isn't want Michigan needs; it needs consistency.
The talent is there for Underwood; there has never been an argument when it comes to that, but can he perform consistently and help Michigan get better as the season goes on? That is the real question that is going to have to be answered throughout fall camp.
Beck spoke about Underwood's intelligence and work ethic during his time with the media, too, and that is all well and great, but he now has to bring that into the season. Underwood is going to have to work hard during fall camp to really solidify the new footwork, get comfortable again throwing on the run, and allow his offense to work around him.
At times last season, it seemed like everything was on Underwood's shoulders with wide receiver drops and the revolving door at the running back position. Now, Underwood has support around him and a better coaching staff that is clearly ready to support him and work to his strengths as well.
It is typical for a quarterback to play hero ball a lot, but trusting his teammates and coaching staff will be key for Underwood to truly make the improvements this season, improvements that need to stick in order for Michigan to succeed.
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