In a move that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, one of the most coveted high school prospects in the country, took to social media to mock the University of Michigan’s reported $10 million NIL offer.
Underwood, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound signal caller from Belleville, Michigan, has long been a subject of speculation regarding his college commitment, and his recent post only adds fuel to the fire surrounding his recruitment.
Bryce Underwood’s cryptic message, posted on his Twitter account late Tuesday evening, read: “When the bag comes with strings attached, you’ve gotta ask yourself, is it really worth it?” The tweet, accompanied by a picture of Underwood walking out of a tunnel, appeared to be a thinly veiled response to reports that Michigan had made a massive NIL pitch to the young quarterback.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Michigan’s NIL collective had offered Underwood a staggering $10 million deal as part of their efforts to land him for the 2025 recruiting class.
The deal would make Underwood one of the highest-paid college athletes ever before even stepping on a college campus.
While Michigan’s offer represents the latest in the growing trend of NIL-driven recruitment, Underwood’s cryptic post seems to suggest he’s not just interested in money—he wants more than what comes with the offer.
Underwood’s tweet has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. While some believe the quarterback is simply playing the recruiting game and using the offer to increase his leverage, others think it signals a larger discontent with the current landscape of college football, where NIL deals often play a large role in the recruitment process.
The timing of the post is particularly interesting given Underwood’s ties to Michigan. Many have speculated that he could stay in his home state and join the Wolverines, but the cryptic message seems to indicate that Underwood may be looking for a program that aligns more closely with his values—one that prioritizes development, culture, and football tradition over financial incentives.
Michigan’s reported $10 million offer was seen by many as an unprecedented move in the recruitment of a high school athlete. However, it now appears that the Wolverines might be in for a battle, not just against other schools, but against a rising tide of recruits who are questioning the true value of NIL deals in the recruitment process.
As Underwood’s recruitment heats up, college football fans will be watching closely to see how this latest drama unfolds. Will he stick to his home-state roots, or is he really looking for something more? Only time will tell.