Dave Portnoy addresses his role in flipping Bryce Underwood
Barstool Sports founder David Portnoy walks towards the pagoda before the start of Carb Day practice, Friday, May 28, 2021, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Photo Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was quick to celebrate Michigan’s massive recruiting victory on Thursday, but that does not mean he had a direct hand in making it happen.
Bryce Underwood, who is the No. 1 overall recruit for the class of 2025, has announced his commitment to the Wolverines. Underwood, who is from Belleville, Mich., had previously been committed to LSU, but the quarterback changed his commitment.
Portnoy, who is a Michigan alumnist and fan of the Wolverines, had previously indicated he was prepared to spend millions of dollars to bring his school a top quarterback. Did he do that to help Michigan land Underwood?
It doesn’t sound like it. Though Portnoy shared a video on social media boasting about Underwood’s commitment, he later said his role in bringing the quarterback to Ann Arbor was “tiny.”
“Im getting tons of credit online for flipping Bryce. While I love credit reality is I played a tiny roll (sic). Rest assured there are Michigan Men + Women out there making things happen behind the scenes. I’ve never been more confident that Mich is poised to dominate in this new world,” Portnoy wrote on X.
Im getting tons of credit online for flipping Bryce. While I love credit reality is I played a tiny roll. Rest assured there are Michigan Men + Women out there making things happen behind the scenes. I've never been more confident that Mich is poised to dominate in this new world
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) November 22, 2024
The 6-foot-4 Underwood is now the highest-rated recruit Michigan has ever landed. Underwood’s high school teammate Elijah Dotson flipped his commitment from Pitt to Michigan earlier this week, which seemed to be a sign of what was to come with Underwood.
