Michigan Had Interest in Star Transfer Quarterback

For context, the Michigan Wolverines apparently had their eyes on quarterbacks in the transfer portal this offseason despite having five-star signal-caller Bryce Underwood under contract.

Key points

• Underwood had some growing pains in his freshman season, competing 60.3% of his passes for 2, 428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
• Mestemaker led the NCAA in passing yards with North Texas last season with 4, 379 yards.
• Mestemaker chose to transfer to Oklahoma State to follow head coach Eric Morris.
• New Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham seems to have wanted some competition at quarterback this year.
• At the time Mestemaker was making his decision, Dante Moore had not created his decision to return to Oregon.

Newsweek is a Trust Project member.

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

Underwood had some growing pains in his freshman season, competing 60.3% of his passes for 2, 428 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He took 20 sacks. The six-foot-four, 228-pound athlete from Detroit, Michigan, rushed for 392 yards and six touchdowns on 88 carries.

New Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham seems to have wanted some competition at quarterback this year. During an appearance on the "Brandon Walker College Football Show" on Friday, Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker remarked he was receiving interest from Oregon, LSU, Texas Tech and Michigan in the transfer portal this offseason. More news: Kirk Herbstreit Calls Out Notre Dame for 'Embarrassing' Schedule. More news: Three Teams That Can Win the Major 12.

I didn't talk to a whole bunch of schools in the portal, Mestemaker remarked. But my agent, we kind of came down to a pretty tight little grouping there at the end. And really, the schools that were interested were like Oregon. LSU was on there.

"Michigan was in our radar. Kind of those three, I guess–maybe (Texas) Tech a little bit. I mean, at the end of the day, I kind of chose my decision pretty rapidly, honestly."

At the time Mestemaker was making his decision, Dante Moore had not created his decision to return to Oregon. LSU and Texas Tech were looking for quarterbacks.

Mestemaker led the NCAA in passing yards with North Texas last season with 4, 379 yards. He threw for 34 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He continued another five scores on the ground.

Had Mestemaker transferred to Michigan, he would have probable been the starter for the Wolverines this season. Like what happened with Dylan Raiola at Oregon when Moore decided to return, Underwood could have sat behind Mestemaker for a year to learn the position before getting another opportunity to play in 2027.

Instead, Underwood will need to show improvement in Year 2 under a new coaching staff. For more on the NCAA, head to Newsweek Sports.

In short, michigan Had Interest in Star Transfer Quarterback is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.