Greg McElroy is getting real about the impact of NIL on high school athletics. The ESPN analyst opened up about the weight of NIL expectations on young athletes like Michigan Wolverines’ five-star recruit Bryce Underwood.
Underwood, who has an NIL valuation of $3 Million per ON3, possesses a first-hand experience with the changing landscape of college athletics. He is the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the 2025 class and flipped his commitment from LSU after Michigan offered him an NIL deal reportedly worth $10.5 million over the next four years.
In an appearance on “Always College Football” on Thursday, McElroy discussed the increased pressure placed on high school athletes in the NIL age.
“I think Bryce Underwood is making a lot more money than pretty much everybody,” McElroy said. “But there’s been a handful of guys that have not lived up to the expectations and the weight of the NIL expectations, because I do think – now in the era of the NIL – the expectations are higher and the pressure is higher as well.”
Expectations are certainly high for Underwood. The Wolverines’ massive NIL package highlights their need for the nation’s top quarterback recruit.
Michigan had one of the worst offenses in the country last season and played to an 8-5 record after going undefeated the year before. The Wolverines had the 131st passing offense, something they will look to bounce back from with Underwood’s help.
What Bryce Underwood brings to Michigan?
Bryce Underwood joins the Wolverines as the No. 1 player in his class with a perfect 247Sports prospect score.
Underwood was a four-year starter at Belleville High School, where he led the Tigers to two Division I MHSAA State Championships in 2021 and 2022 and three consecutive appearances from 2021 to 2023.
In his senior season, Underwood accumulated 2,509 passing yards and 32 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He made 71.8 percent of his passes and scored six rushing touchdowns with over 600 yards.
Throughout his high school career, he racked up 12,919 all-purpose yards including 11,488 passing yards and 179 total touchdowns.
Underwood was a dominant force in high school and played his way into being the nation’s top recruit. He will look to transform Michigan’s offense with his impressive skill set. He will hopefully look to transform Michigan’s offense with his impressive skill set and abilities.
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