Former NFL player Eric Weddle says he predicted Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood's benching
Eric Weddle claimed he foresaw Michigan's decision to replace sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood after observing the player's performance in practice earlier this year.
Former NFL safety Eric Weddle said he warned that Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood would likely be replaced before the season began. On the “Zero 2 Sixty” podcast in May, Weddle told listeners, "Don’t be surprised if the backup is playing early because that Underwood kid, you know, I don’t think he could throw or play quarterback." Underwood was taken out at halftime of Michigan’s 21-18 win over Penn State after throwing two interceptions, and freshman Tommy Carr led the Wolverines to a comeback.
Weddle, who visited the Ann Arbor campus in early April with his son, a four-star safety recruit, said he saw Underwood struggle with basic, rhythm-based passes during practice. He later told the Detroit Free Press, "I’m not happy that he got benched. But I saw what I saw, and the truth hurts. I don’t know what else to say. I don’t like being right. But if I saw something egregious from the quarterback position, don’t be mad because I pointed it out... What I saw wasn’t good enough. And so it ultimately came true."
Head coach Kyle Whittingham declined to name a starter for the upcoming game against Indiana, but noted the team’s confidence in Carr after his second-half performance, saying, "We saw good stuff out of Tommy in that second half, and we know exactly what we’re doing and the plan going forward."