ANN ARBOR ― When Michigan opened its season Saturday night against New Mexico, Bryce Underwood was expected to be the fourth true freshman to start at quarterback for Michigan, next in line behind Tate Forcier (2009), Chad Henne (2004) and Rick Leach (1975).

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There is a common thread shared by the four.

“They were all very tough,” Jackson said in an interview with The Detroit News. “They were all competitive, and they were leaders. All three of them were that way when they were freshmen, and so is Bryce.”

Another quality the four Michigan freshman quarterbacks share, Jackson said, is their desire to be coached and ability to take coaching.

He saw that firsthand in the ‘70s with Leach in high school. Every Thursday night during the season, Leach would drop in at Jackson

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