The Hurry-Up: Five-star 2025 QB Bryce Underwood Says He and Corey Dennis “Build A Bond Every Time We Talk” and Nigel Smith Puts Ohio State in His Top Eight

By Garrick Hodge on May 8, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Bryce Underwood
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Michigan 2025 quarterback Bryce Underwood more than lived up to his five-star billing on Sunday.

Underwood, considered the 2025 class’ No. 1 quarterback per 247Sports’ composite rankings, was among the top performers at the Under Armour Next camp in Obetz, Ohio. The Belleville resident was named an MVP of the quarterback group, along with 2025 four-star signal caller Ryan Montgomery, after dazzling evaluators with both his arm strength and his precision on passes Sunday. Among those watching Underwood throw was Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who was allowed to attend the camp because his son, RJ Day, was a participant in the event.

After the camp wrapped up, Underwood visited Ohio State for the first time since picking up his Buckeyes offer in December. Before his trip to campus, Underwood told a group of reporters in Obetz he’d be looking forward to seeing how the Buckeyes’ coaches interacted with him outside of the football field. 

Underwood is one of two quarterbacks in the 2025 class to hold an offer from OSU, with Montgomery being the other. Underwood said he speaks with OSU quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis once per week and that the pair have developed a solid relationship. 

“We build a bond almost every single time we talk,” Underwood said of Dennis. 

Each of Ohio State’s last three quarterbacks under Day’s tutelage – Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud – has been a top-15 NFL draft pick. Underwood said OSU’s developmental track record has his attention.

“That’s a big factor. Because one of my biggest goals is to be a Hall of Famer in the NFL. With them producing a lot of great quarterbacks, that has a lot to do with it,” Underwood said of his interest in the Buckeyes. 

You can tell from the above quote that Underwood has no shortage of confidence. That likely stems from being the starting quarterback on a high school team that has won back-to-back state championships, his recruiting ranking, his 35 Division I offers and his overall talent. Last season, Underwood led Belleville High School (Belleville, Michigan) to a perfect 14-0 season by passing for 2,751 yards and 37 touchdowns with a 65% completion rate and 642 rushing yards. He also won a state title as a freshman with a 13-1 record, throwing for 2,888 yards with 39 touchdown passes and a 62% completion rate.

While Underwood says he isn’t opposed to attending a college a long way from home, he’s familiar with the Ohio State and Michigan rivalry growing up in Michigan. Underwood said he grew up a Michigan fan, but that had more to do with playing on a youth football team named the Wolverines than his Michigan roots. As a recruit, he’s not taking sides in college football’s most historic rivalry.

“May the best team win,” Underwood said of the rivalry. 

Nigel Smith puts OSU in top eight

One of Ohio State’s top remaining defensive end targets in the 2024 cycle has trimmed his recruitment down to eight schools. On Monday, four-star Texas defensive end Nigel Smith released a top eight consisting of Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, Rutgers, Penn State, Georgia, Texas A&M and Arkansas. 

Last week, Smith told Eleven Warriors the Buckeyes would be one of his five official visits in June and that he expects defensive line coach Larry Johnson to visit him at this high school this week. He remains high on Ohio State heading into June.

“I love their development in the past and what they’re doing with the guys they have now,” Smith said last week of Ohio State. “They’ve been putting people in the league for years. Coach LJ has proven he can develop guys. Their defense with coach Knowles is very attack, attack, attack, which I love for the defensive ends. I think I’d fit in very well, and they’ve shown me film of how I play and how their guys play. I fit in well to their defense and have built really good relationships with coach Day, coach Johnson and coach Jim Knowles.” 

Ify Obidegwu commits to Oregon

A cornerback with an Ohio State offer is headed elsewhere. Four-star Maryland prospect Ify Obidegwu committed to Oregon on Sunday, giving the Ducks 11 commits in the 2024 class.

Obidegwu was offered by Ohio State on Dec. 12 and visited OSU this spring. With Obidgewu off the board, remaining options at cornerback for the Buckeyes include Bryce West, Aaron Scott, Zabien Brown, Kobe Black, Miles Lockhart, Charles Lester III and Corian Gipson.

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