LSU made a splash on the recruiting path Saturday by touchdown a dedication from quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 general prospect throughout the 2025 cycle, in keeping with 247Sports. The five-star signal-caller out of Belleville Excessive Faculty in Michigan introduced his choice to play for coach Brian Kelly throughout a ceremony at his highschool.
“Nice teaching employees, wonderful teaching employees, wonderful ambiance,” Underwood told 247Sports. “This system itself could be very historic. A whole lot of nice gamers went out and in of Louisiana State College.
To no shock, Underwood has been closely pursued throughout his recruitment. He is obtained a minimum of 41 recognized presents, in keeping with 247Sports, together with the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas and even Colorado. Underwood took three unofficial visits to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, within the final yr — most not too long ago in October — earlier than pledging to LSU.
By his junior season, Underwood’s has already constructed a formidable highschool resume. He’s 40-2 general as Belleville’s starer and was named the 2023 Michigan High School Football Player of the Year after passing for 3,405 yards and 42 touchdowns towards simply three interceptions. That got here after Underwood led Belleville to back-to-back state championships in 2021 and 2022, a part of a 38-game win streak that was snapped in 2023 because the Tigers fell wanting a three-peat. He was named MaxPreps Nationwide Sophomore of the Yr in 2022.
Whereas the phrase “generational expertise” has been tossed round much more loosely on this age, there’s potential for Underwood to be simply that for LSU, in keeping with an analysis from 247Sports nationwide recruiting analyst Allen Trieu:
Forward of his years bodily and appears like he might be a senior or faculty participant already. Has a robust arm with the flexibility to make throws to any a part of the sphere. Throws a very good deep ball and may use contact to present his receivers an opportunity to go make performs on the ball. Did an distinctive job of caring for the ball as a freshman with 39 touchdowns to simply 4 interceptions. Removed the ball shortly and was decisive with the ball for probably the most half. Excellent athlete who truthfully might be a high-level recruit on protection if he was not such an amazing quarterback. Makes use of these legs to flee the push and lengthen performs. He seems to be to throw after escaping however can even take off and be harmful as a runner.
Underwood turns into the eighth recruit within the 2025 cycle to decide to LSU. He is the second five-star prospect to take action, becoming a member of huge receiver Dakorien Moore, who’s contemporary off successful back-to-back state titles with Duncanville Excessive Faculty in Texas. Moore is ranked the No. 5 prospect general throughout the 2025 cycle, per 247Sports.
LSU finds subsequent potential star at QB
Elite quarterback play has turn into crucial for achievement within the fashionable period of college football. Even the SEC, which used to rely much more on smash-mouth offense and deadly speeding assaults not that way back, has tailored on that entrance. The convention has produced a trio of Heisman-winning quarterbacks throughout the previous 5 seasons. Two of these have come from LSU, first Joe Burrow through the Tigers’ Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship run in 2019 after which Jayden Daniels in 2023.
Daniels declared for the 2024 NFL Draft after after passing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2023, plus greater than 1,000 yards speeding. Whereas there is a hole yr earlier than Underwood arrives in 2025, Underwood would possibly simply be the following celebrity in that quarterback lineage for the Tigers. Rising junior Garrett Nussmeier seems to be the favourite to start out below heart for LSU in 2024 earlier than Underwood enters the image, however Underwood is sure to be an element it doesn’t matter what the quarterback competitors seems to be like in 2025.
If Underwood does turn into a family identify in Baton Rouge, he’d be a real developmental prospect in contrast to Burrow and Daniels, each of whom began their careers elsewhere. A lot can change within the subsequent 11 months earlier than the 2024 early signing interval rolls round, however for now, LSU is an enormous winner on the recruiting path.
