Michigan secured its quarterback of the future last week, winning a big-money NIL battle with LSU to flip five-star recruit Bryce Underwood, the consensus No. 1 player in the 2025 class.

Underwood represents a massive upgrade for the reigning national champions, who have slumped to 6-5 this season as a result of dismal quarterback play following JJ McCarthy’s departure to the NFL. Davis Warren, Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji have played as a rotating cast under center, and none of them have been able to run the Wolverines’ offense efficiently.

Michigan pulled out all the stops to flip Underwood, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and billionaire software magnate Larry Ellison among donors who put together an NIL package in excess of $10 million which ultimately swayed the player.

Underwood’s commitment has been hailed by Michigan fans, who hope the hometown hero – raised just 30 minutes down the road from Ann Arbor in Belleville – can quickly return the program to championship contention when he makes his bow in 2025.

But one player who did not welcome Underwood’s decision to stay at home and play for the Wolverines is Brady Hart. The four-star quarterback is the No. 8 quarterback in the 2026 class and the No. 89 player in the ESPN 300.

The Cocoa, Florida native has decommitted from Michigan and reclassified as part of the 2025 class, flipping his commitment to Texas A&M.

Brady Hart has backtracked on his commitment to Michigan

Brady Hart has backtracked on his commitment to Michigan ( 

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The Michigan Insider/YouTube)

“I’ve had a fair share of schools ask me to reclass these past couple of months,” Smith said. “I felt like I’m mentally ready to go to school and start the next step of all this. I just felt A&M was just the perfect place.”

Hart’s Cocoa High School head coach Ryan Schneider believes Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is getting a top-quality prospect.

“His work ethic, his competitiveness, how serious he takes everything on the field and off the field,” Schneider told On3. “His leadership as a sophomore, he comes into a senior-driven team and by the way he worked and the way he took care of his business on and off the field he earned their respect.

“He has that it factor. He’s a guy who the kids can rally around. He’s a guy when situations are tough he wants the ball in his hands. He has ability to be one of the best.”

“He has God-given ability of height and size and arm that’s special, but I’m more excited about what’s between his ears and how it works,” Schneider said. “He has a chance to be extremely special.”