Let’s go back in time about two months ago to Michigan’s 2026 spring game. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood only played the first quarter of the game, not exactly putting on his best performance, but the spring game isn’t anything to overreact about, right?

That was until true freshman Tommy Carr took the field for the rest of the afternoon, completing 21-of-30 passes for 143 yards while rushing for an additional 67 yards.

Carr had been catching the eye of the coaching staff during spring practice, but we hadn’t yet had the chance to see him in action. The three-star wasn’t on the radar of many fans, and even those who knew about him did so because he’s the grandson of legendary coach Lloyd Carr. In the wake of the spring game, though, many began to wonder just how much of a part of the future he’ll be for the program, and if his impact could be relatively immediate. As much fun as it might be for the legacy to get a shot fresh out of high school, I don’t think it’ll be that cut and dry.

Carr’s spring game performance was impressive, but his ability to have that performance was also aided by the fact that someone else wasn’t yet on campus — transfer quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.

If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because Fowler-Nicolosi hasn’t been a stranger in college football the last two years. The former Colorado State quarterback is most well-known for sparring with Shedeur Sanders in 2024. Before a matchup between the two teams, Fowler-Nicolosi remarked that the Buffaloes were in for a “rude awakening.” After Colorado won, Fowler-Nicolosi was snubbed for a post-game handshake by Sanders.

Aside from that, Fowler-Nicolosi was still a solid quarterback for the Rams. He has compiled 6,938 passing yards and 38 touchdowns in his career, mostly coming in 2023 and 2024. He was benched after just three starts in 2025, but still has the experience and arm talent to be a reliable backup on a Power 4 team, something that should manifest with the better coaching he’ll likely receive at Michigan.

When looking back to last season, Michigan thought it had something similar to Fowler-Nicolosi with Mikey Keene, an experienced quarterback who would at least serve as a backup to Underwood. Injuries kept him out of the mix, though, and perhaps played a role in Michigan’s lack of aggression with Underwood throughout the year. Now, it looks like the Wolverines have two reliable options between Carr and Fowler-Nicolosi, who are both healthy and have some upside.

So who should be No. 2 on the depth chart?

The argument for Carr would be the comfort he showed during the spring game, and likely during spring practices as well, with the staff praising him as highly as it did. Back in April, we saw a quarterback moving seamlessly between his reads, delivering passes that were on time and on target, while also not being afraid to tuck it and run when the situation dictated.

Between him and Underwood, Carr looked much more like the player with a year of college experience under his belt. The upside might not be as high, but it was impressive nonetheless. The argument against him is that it was a spring game, being played in a very calm and controlled environment, mostly against second-, third- and fourth-stringers. There’s no telling yet how he would perform when his conditions aren’t so ideal and the competition is stiffer.

As for Fowler-Nicolosi, he’s already battle-tested with 28 career starts under his belt. His most recent starts in 2025 weren’t good, but he’s been successful before and can be again with a change of scenery. If Underwood needs to miss time at any point, Michigan can’t afford to turn to someone less proven, so Fowler-Nicolosi should be the guy to back him up.

Carr showed the fan base something during the spring game, and he might be more a part of the program’s plans than many anticipated. But for 2026, he’s best served continuing to add to his toolbox as the No. 3 man on the depth chart rather than being thrown into the fire as Michigan’s backup or anything more than that.