Blue By Ninety - Bryce Underwood Joins the Show with Donaven McCulley, Marlin Klein, Fred Moore, and Mason Curtis

Episode Date: July 13, 2025

Justin and Tanner are joined by Bryce Underwood, Donaven McCulley, Marlin Klein, Fred Moore, and Mason Curtis at Feldman Chevrolet of Highland.

the the the the the the the the the We just came off a little break in July for the force, spent some time with our family.

And we've been just getting to it for the past couple weeks. So yeah, I think it's been really fun. I mean, you can't really beat a summer in Ann Arbor. Everybody's back. It's really just a football team in town. The town's kind of dead, but the streets are empty. It's just straight work. People sleep on Ann Arbor.

But Ann Arbor in the summer, I swear. You can get parking spots pretty easily. Yeah, that's like the biggest perk, I think, of when the students go home. What's it like coming off of a break? Like, you kind of, I mean, you guys are world-class athletes. Like, let's be honest, compared to, I think about like, when I take a two-month break and then go back into the gym, I'm like, damn. What's that like, like, what's the mindset when you kind of are like, man, I've been snacking a little bit, or do you guys stay in that routine and make sure it's not as rough when you go back into the program?

I think for us, it's really the break is really being away from an arbor. I'm pretty sure like everybody that plays on the team did something during a break, you know, the personal training. I cannot relate. Yeah. See, that's why I don't know. I personally did not. I was just on the boat like the whole time. Yeah, I can't do that. That's fair. That's fair. That is, it is your job to stay in shape. So yeah. That's good. Donovan, how about you? Yeah, I just, I think the off season for us isn't really the off

season. Like we always have, you know, workouts and always having to stay in shape and eat right, keep our bodies in shape. So never really stops for us. Well, I've always been curious because I think, I mean, we all played high school football. That's as far as we went. But how important is it, you obviously emphasize lifting after the season and

in January and February as you get into spring practice and through the summer. How important is it in the season to maintain your strength and all those lifts that you go through? I mean, do you cut down on the amount of workouts, the strength and conditioning staff, do they cut down on that or like, what does that look like? I think it's really a huge part for me,

especially for a position that I play, I can't just not lift for six months of the season just to go out there and run. We need you moving bodies. Yeah. So we still lift after workouts, the season. We're still lifting for six months of the season. Right. Right. We need you moving bodies. Yeah. So, so we still, you know, lift after

workouts where you have to practice or before for practice throughout the season. So, that's a huge part and I think and the strength coaches do a great job with that keeping us right. Uh you know, the body's moving and that we're that we

feel strong throughout the season. There you go. Yeah, and I think that, so Donovan, you came up to Ann Arbor in December, is that right? January. January. So you've now had what, six, seven months of the strength program up here, getting used to things. Are you all caught up? Do you feel comfortable now? Yeah, definitely.

I feel like I've adjusted well with coach stress and the strength to have. I feel like I've definitely seen my body change drastically in the last six months. And yeah, I'm excited to see what else the future holds with the rest of the team. All right. We've got somebody joining us here.

I don't know. Do you guys know this guy? Let's get those balloons out of there. We don't need them All right, right. What's going on man? Good good if you guys can share Mike over there something. Yeah, sorry guys. We only have four All right, appreciate you joining So so yeah, it's great to have you. Great to have you here. We're just talking to these guys about how the summer's been going. You know,

Don has been up here for a few months. Marlon's been here for, I mean, years now, 10 years, it feels like, you know, you've been in Ann Arbor for a few months as well. How have things been going for you? How have you been, you know, getting adjusted to everything? Everything been a great adjustment, honestly. Just competing with the guys in the room, quarterback room, and also competing with the whole team, which has been great. I've got a lot of great guys around me, so. Love it. And you've got a few pretty solid weapons here,

I would say, right? So you've been finding them, you know, in some passing this summer? Definitely, Wes, for sure. Hey, I just want to say if y'all play like I do in the video game, we're not losing I mean these guys going deep. I'm running with you Bryce. I'm getting after I'm juking. I'm doing everything man I've heard out of it is cold Contested catch special brother He said that's real. All right, we'll see. We'll see have you I mean you guys were in it last year But like on that topic like what's it like being on the cover as a Alright, we'll see. We'll see. Have you I mean,

you guys were in it last year, but like on that topic, like what's it like being on the cover as a freshman and then like seeing yourself in the game like have any friends from back home, you know, 20 minutes away but like if they hit you

up like y'all playing with you in the game like is that kind of surreal? Yeah, definitely. Uh my uh one of my cousins come yesterday and then I heard my name in the background while he was playing. He was playing dynasty mode or whatever. He

was the receiver for Michigan. So he called me and then I heard my name in the background while he was playing dynasty mode or whatever. He was the receiver for Michigan. So he called me and then I heard my name in the background. I was like, that's kind of crazy. So that is nuts. Um yeah, it's gotta be a surreal moment, right? Um I feel like

we've all like growing up wanted like we've made our creative player, right? I'm thirty and I did it two days ago. I went, I I put my high school in there. I was a quarterback, you know, I was trying to be like Bryce in the game, man. I love it. I love it. Yeah. And then, you know, you've got we were talking over there. You've got some big body guys right here, right? It's gotta be nice to be able to have, you know, them open up into a window, you know, be able to find these guys in the slot or wherever they are. That's it. That's what I get. that's it. That. So, he's

smiling, right? It's that means it's probably not the best. Yeah, it's probably not. I got faith in it. Oh, that's that's it. It took a little bit. It took a few holes. Um I'm not going to fully out him. Actually, I probably am but uh

there was one time where he swung and missed three times. That means he's human. We've all been there. Practice swings for sure. That was like my first time ever golfing. We're gonna let that... I was gonna ask, I've heard about the 5am workouts, is that... You're getting him up early? Is that what's going on? The freshman's getting the upperclassmen up early? Is he cutting into your driving range time?

Donovan's been complaining about it too. It's crazy. All those sessions been going. I mean are you getting out there multiple times with different groups Bryce and Donovan? Like what's that kind of looking like? Yeah we kind of like I came off it a little bit because we was going into our break during May and then this process during summer and everything so I came off it walk a little bit. But in a five a.m. thing. Yeah. He was like, why is it so early? I can be a little later in the day. But other than that, everything's been good.

Smooth. That's good. Marlon, are you a morning guy? Not really. But I do like, you know, get my workouts done because it almost feels like two days in one. That's true. Take a nap. Have a whole another day. I like that. I mean, you're done with your day by, you know, 10 my workouts done. Cause it almost feels like two days in one. That's true. You get done, take a nap, have a whole nother day. I like that. I mean, you're done with your day by, you know, 10 o'clock, so, but yeah, I mean, going back to the golf thing,

after seeing the Instagram story, he was definitely the freshest player out there. That's what he had that watch on yesterday. On the course, I was like, whoa. I mean, Bryce, I know you had a cool moment with LeBron and I appreciate what you said to him about, you know, that the team in Columbus, but his golf swing has been going viral because he's probably getting close to retirement. I mean, is it better or worse than LeBron's because LeBron's looks like almost like Charles Barkley. know, for somebody who has never swung a club before, you know, we did a few practice shots. He was making real good contact by the end of it. And then the

rain came. So it kind of, you know, look, we have our golf outing in two weeks. I began to look way worse than he is for having played before. Wait, are you guys in the champion circle golf outing? Are you guys playing or just chilling? I hope we chillin. Have you ever played? No. Nah? Uh-uh. All right, well we'll see. I feel like we're gonna get some video

of some swings that day, maybe. Where you live? There, man. Something bad too, so. Cool. Oh, shit. I mean, I know Davis. Davis is a great golfer, right?

JD Johnson, unbelievable golfer. Anybody else? California and Arizona, like, of course they're good golfers Johnson, unbelievable golfer. Yeah, California and Arizona. Like, of course, they're good golfers. They play year round. Um also, what Donovan and I were talking about yesterday is he said he can hoop. Have

you hooped with him? I've hooped with Donovan yet. Alright. Best player on the team. You? You heard it here first. Best player on the team. Wow. Wow. Bryce, what you got to say about that? You heard it here first. Best player on the team. Wow. Wow. Bryce, what you got to say to me? First, best player on the team. Hey, did you? I don't know. I mean, I'm sure you guys are locked in

right now, but I saw Carter Meadows is coming to Michigan in next year's class completely a blood just murdered a kid. Did you see this? He called a but I mean he dunked on him and it was I mean for that kid at defensive end to do that. I

don't know if you guys saw that but it was maybe you guys have a competition coming. I don't know. I mean he and he got in his face too. I was like it was I mean for that kid at defensive end to do that. I don't know if you guys saw that but it was maybe got some competition coming. I don't know. I mean he and he got his face to I was like it was crazy. It was crazy. Yeah, yeah for real. So all right, you two are going up against each other going up.

Who's catching the body for real though? Me me. I had to grab the mic before he say so before the last came out. So it's going to be me. No question about it. We not go. We know the answer. What about soccer or football?

Soccer, he could have them all. I mean, Marlon is straight up from Germany. I'm taking myself. I might take myself in the basketball top. Oh, that's crazy. He wasn't even brought up in a conversation. That has a lot to say about that. I do want to give a shout out to Feldman for having us. So they've all hooked you guys up with cars, right?

Everything's been taken care of. Somebody, you know, one of you just talk about the customer service here and how they, you know, just how you guys have appreciated what they've been able to do for you guys. Yeah, I think it's been super easy to deal with those guys, you know, to kind of know what schedule we work around. And really, you can call them 24-7, they'll answer and, you know, get whatever you need.

So, just super happy with working with them. And I think everybody else, I can speak for everybody on our team that works with them as well and has gotten a car from them as well. It's been so fun and we're just blessed to be here and come here, you know, meet a bunch of fans and just have a great day with everybody. Love it. Love it. Yes. We've had people here. The rumor was people were here at 430 a.m. this morning to see you guys. So I was people here at 430 AM this morning to see you guys. So, I

was I was asleep. I was sleeping for a while. I was knocked but uh so they're excited. The fans are excited. We're happy to be here. Um you know, looking ahead to the to the fall to the season here. Um you know, what can people

expect to see this year? You know, obviously, last year, you're looking at, you know, the offense. Uh Marlon, you were a part of it. You know, not everything that you guys had hoped for. What can you expect or what can the fans expect to see next year or this season? Yeah, I think the biggest difference is we're still,

I mean, really we're still going to, we're still Michigan, so we're still going to run the ball. But I think now this year we're going to have the opportunity to really air it out as well. So it's going to be a 50-50 game where it's going to be harder for defenses, you know, to really game plan us and look at us and really respect the receiving game as well. It's pretty easy going into a game and knowing they're

going to run the ball. And that's not going to be the case this year. So there you go. And even then some teams struggled to stop it. I don't know. I mean, some, some teams, some there were some, there were some teams towards the end of the schedule last year that they just couldn't do it. It's gonna be real fun. Fred, what's going on my man? What's up? Fred Moore joining the show. Appreciate you, man. Um we're just talking to these guys about what we can expect this season. Um wanted to ask

you, I guess we can just jump right into it. I I know we're coming in hot with you here but um what have you seen from these guys up here uh so far this summer? Oh, what have you seen I mean, Donovan did tell me that you are maybe the craziest talker on the team. Is that facts? No, that is incorrect. I mean, he's the craziest talking. Like that statement itself is crazy itself. I know. Well, I know Jair too on the other side of the ball. He's talking nonstop. I feel like DBs feel like DBs are just insane anyways. Like you have to be, so it makes sense. I feel like that's just a personality of a DB. Yeah. It's just D-Mac and Freya versus Shug and B-Hill, I think. So it'd be funny.

Probably some past interference, and then he gets up doing the incomplete sign or whatever. He sheathes the sword, yeah. Exactly. But yeah, I mean, we're excited for sure. You know, I know I saw actually yesterday tickets sold out for the whole season. So very, I mean, people are excited to see you guys, right?

So I think it's kind of on you guys. You got to put up some fireworks. Yeah. I mean, that's what we're planning on doing. You're putting on a show for everybody. It's going to be there. So super excited. Yeah. It's going to be there. So, super excited. Yeah, it's going to be a show. I love it. Any, have we been working on any

touchdown celebrations this summer? Not quite yet. I had the Amon Ra headstand or? No, we're not talking. I'm just here so I don't want to get fined. I don't want to get fined. That's the best. If you're a Michigan fan, that's the answer

you want. You want to work it on ball, not celebrations. That's right. Just hand the ball back to the back of the that's the best if you're a Michigan fan that's the answer you want you want to work on ball not celebrations. You know just just hand the ball back to the back to the Barry Sanders. Who's the best who's the best Hooper on the team.

We had this conversation before you arrived. It seemed to get pretty heated. So so if I say me would that be great. I the best Hooper I take it should. Wow. I want one of y'all to say I'm like, all right, the best Hoover. I'd say you should.

Wow. I want one of y'all to say Dominic's Avada and just you know break the Internet like he's the best basketball player on the team. You don't think so. You don't think he could you know old man game.

Will Rick Barry free throw like underhand school. I don't know. I want to hear what you were about to say about Fred and show. I'm about to get some. Have you seen Fred jump shot? Have you seen fresh before? So if you see Fred jump shot before, okay, sure.

But like when I tell you he's the biggest ball. How do you ever? That doesn't shock me at all. Once he touched the ball. Don't even put your hand up. He's the biggest ball. You wouldn't shock me at all. Once he touched the ball, don't even put your hand up. He's not giving you the ball. No matter if it's a black hole. Who's

your five? You take it to the starting five. He's a five starting five for Hooping from Michigan football. I'm taking Mason. Alright, I'm taking T. J. I've never been through things so you might not take it. Alright, we're

gonna be I'm taking Mason. TJ can hope. Yeah. TJ got to go. No, no. He said he would even pick up a basketball if it the I feel like this is when Lebron and KD like wouldn't pick James Harden in the All-Star game. He can't who? Mason can't who? No, Derek Moore. You and his will pick up. Yes. Mason, can you? I'm telling you. I'm telling

Last question. I want to talk about Mason here real quick. So I feel like Mason, this is like a breakout season coming for you, right? So yeah, sorry, we got some slack there. But- Yeah, we have tape. But we've got all the offensive guys here. What can we expect from the defense this year? You lose a lot of guys obviously to the NFL, but reloading for the season. I just think our defense is more deeper than what people think.

You know, it has a lot of depth to it in every, you know, edge safety corner. And there's a lot of people who can play, but haven't really got the chance to get that or really even makes a place. There you go. All right. Well, anybody else got anything to say?

Well you said Brandon Hillman does he like the way he plays football makes me think he plays basketball like you would expect a football player to he's like finesse he can he's not just barreling through the lane okay you said that and I was like I've seen that guy you know deplete a couple guys you know concerned we were gonna get a targeting call and uh it was clean though. It's clean. Um actually Mason, anybody else on the defense that we should be looking out for? Obviously, you know, you have D more TJ and a lot of uh earn a lot of other dudes on there. Anybody that's gonna also break out with you? Uh probably Dom Nichols. It's about to end. It's got good pass rush. Love it. Love it. All right. Well, shout out to Felvin. Appreciate you guys. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. Love it. Alright.

Well, shout out to Felton. Appreciate you guys. Thank you guys. Appreciate it. Chevrolet of Highland. Um thank you guys for joining us today. It's about to get crazy up in here because the fans are all coming in. They're pumped to see you

guys but um we're excited to see you guys this season uh and go blue. Go blue. Go blue.