Michigan QB Bryce Underwood motivated to prove himself in Year 2

Saline — Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood said he has been training “smarter," working on consistency, and simplifying the game during the offseason while under the tutelage of private quarterback coach Jordan Palmer and also during the spring with Wolverines position coach Koy Detmer.Underwood, who enters this fall as the Wolverines’ starting quarterback after starting last season as a freshman, spent Saturday morning and early afternoon at Saline High at a youth camp bearing his name. He has been scrutinized since arriving at Michigan last year as the nation’s top-rated recruit out of Belleville, and heads into this season with much to prove.

Underwood completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,428 yards and had 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He also had 88 carries for 392 yards and six touchdowns.

But under new head coach Kyle Whittingham and his staff, Underwood is getting more coaching and development and now is working with California-based Palmer, whose quarterback client list includes Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. Earlier this year, Underwood shared on Instagram a photo of him and Burrow working with Palmer.Underwood, voted a captain during spring practice, knows this is a big season for him and that expectations are high.

“I want to prove to myself that I am what I think,” Underwood told a small group of reporters Saturday.What kind of quarterback does he think he is?“I feel like I'm the best player to ever come out of Michigan,” he said.

“Now it’s time for me to show up.”During the spring game, Underwood only played a quarter and freshman Tommy Carr played the bulk and earned considerable praise from Whittingham, who also shared Underwood played well throughout the practices. Earlier this month, however, former NFL safety Eric Weddle, who played for Whittingham at Utah where he was head coach the last 21 seasons, harshly criticized Underwood during a "Zero 2 Sixty" podcast interview.

Weddle said he attended Michigan’s spring practice and