2025 Five-Star QB Bryce Underwood Building Buckeye Relationship

Bryce Underwood is the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class and he holds offers from every national power that thinks they have a chance.

Ohio State is one of those programs, and they hosted Underwood (6-4 205) for an unofficial visit a couple of weeks ago. The visit came following Underwood’s MVP performance at an Under Armour Next camp in Obetz, Ohio.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was watching his son RJ perform at the same camp, so he got a first-hand look at Underwood’s arm. Those in attendance were all impressed by both the arm strength and the accuracy.

The Buckeyes have made a solid impression to this point, with OSU quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis keeping in touch regularly.

“We talk once a week. Me and Corey Dennis,” Underwood said after the camp. “So we’re building a bond almost every single time we talk more and more.”

Underwood will be able to go to any school he would like. Even if a school already has a quarterback committed, they’d find a way to work it out. But in order to land his commitment, schools will need to spread the love around.

“I would say them having the same amount of love they have for me for the people that I love  as well, like my family and stuff like that,” he said when asked what he’s looking for in a school.

One potential roadblock for Ohio State is the fact that Underwood attends Belleville High School in Belleville, Michigan. Obviously, that doesn’t eliminate the Buckeyes, but there is a familiarity with the Wolverines that goes back a ways.

“Honestly, I used to play for a little league team called the Wolverines,” Underwood said, “so I always used to watch the Michigan Wolverines.”

As for his thoughts regarding the on-field rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State and what it means to him?

“May the best win,” he said. “That’s all it means to me.”

Despite growing up in Michigan, Ohio State’s ability to produce NFL quarterbacks has been a significant factor in Underwood’s interest in the Buckeyes.

“That has been a big factor because one of my biggest goals is to be a hall of famer,” he said. “So them producing a lot of great quarterbacks has a lot to do with it.”

Michigan has missed out on their last two in-state 5-star quarterbacks, as 2024 prospect CJ Carr has committed to Notre Dame, and 2023 prospect Dante Moore signed with UCLA, so they clearly don’t want to see another one leave the state for a third-consecutive year.

According to Underwood, distance won’t be a factor in his decision.

“Wherever I feel like it’s home to me,” he said of his ultimate decision.

The process for 2025 recruits is still early. They have two more years of visits before any decisions have to be made, and plenty can happen between now and December of 2024.

For what it’s worth, the last time Ohio State signed a quarterback out of Michigan (Craig Krenzel), he led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2002.

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