Head coach Kyle Whittingham, quarterbacks coach Koy Detmer Jr. and QB1 Bryce Underwood joined host Jon Jansen on the 2026 premiere of the Inside Michigan Football Radio Show.
When requested about his hopes for the Western Michigan opener, Whittingham emphasised taking part in a “clean game” and never committing “ignorant penalties” earlier than transitioning to Underwood and his trio of extensive receivers.
The high two of which have felt apparent all through the summer time — sophomores Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan — and he revealed the frontrunner for 11 personnel reps:
“Channing Goodwin’s a guy that really made progress and made strides in the fall, and right now is our number three guy,” Whittingham mentioned.
Goodwin, a redshirt sophomore, appeared in all 13 video games final fall, recording 12 catches for 148 yards. At 6-foot-1, 185 kilos, he ought to slot in properly with Marsh and Buchanan:
“Bryce has a great deal of confidence in Andrew and JJ,” Whittingham mentioned. “They’re big targets; JJ’s 6’3 and close to 220, and Andrew’s, you know, over six feet and just about 200 pounds. So, good-sized receivers, big play capability and they both really do a great job with a contested ball up the field. You know, that 50-50 ball that you put up there and let them go make a play.”
Whittingham additionally confused the significance of Underwood’s captaincy, for which his teammates voted throughout the spring and fall:
“That was maybe the biggest thing is, ‘Hey, be that guy that’s the field general out there that is running the show. Everyone’s looking to you, and you got to embrace that and be able to, you know, be comfortable in that role as the leader,’” he relayed.
“‘… It’s not about yourself and you. It’s about the team.’”
If Detmer Jr.’s work with Underwood is any indication, we are able to anticipate to see that sophomore surge:
“We threw everything at him. Scheme. Terminology. Everything. And he really picked up the terminology and the offense from that standpoint really well. So, that helped with being able to really focus on some details and technique and fundamental stuff where you weren’t having to maybe spend as much time on, ‘Hey, this is how we do this’ or ‘this is called this,’” Detmer Jr. advised Jansen.
It feels just like the pure development for Underwood, who must sharpen his psychological grasp on the sport earlier than we are able to drool over the bodily traits. A robust offensive line and operating sport will assist him, and it appears this revamped teaching employees is placing him in a spot to succeed.
Underwood is effectively conscious of the strain on himself this season, too:
“Using that pressure as more as like a blessing is how I’ve been really thinking about that for like the last couple of years,” Underwood mentioned. “Because without the blessing that God’s given me, you know, the talent that I have, the hard work that I put in, it wouldn’t be the pressure that I have at this moment.”
It is simple to say the precise issues within the offseason. However, this employees has extra obvious competency and may make a robust first impression on Saturday.
What do you anticipate from Underwood and his receivers in opposition to the Broncos? Let us know within the feedback.