Ann Arbor — In the scope of a player’s college football career, being voted a captain by teammates still resides as one of the great individual achievements. The weight that carries is different for each captain, but the importance never seems to vary. Michigan safety Rod Moore, whose career was on pause after a knee injury in April 2024 led to three surgeries that has led him to this point, healthy enough to prepare to play a full season — he played in three games last year — became the program’s first three-time captain when the results were announced Monday night. Quarterback Bryce Underwood became the first sophomore elected, running back Jordan Marshall the first junior, and defensive tackle Trey Pierce joins those three as a first-time captain.
The Wolverines continue to practice in preseason camp ahead of the season opener Sept. 5 against Western Michigan. “I thought about a little bit last night when I was talking to my parents, and I was just like, ‘Wow, first three-time captain in Michigan history at a school like Michigan,’” Moore said at a news conference Tuesday. “That's something that you know it's a blessing. It's really all glory to God. “I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to be a three-time captain, even though the roads and trials and tribulations that I had to deal with to get to be a three-time captain to stay here that long. But it means a lot to me. This probably means the most to me because I'm able to go out there and contribute to the team and lead the team actually physically, instead of on the sideline and vocally. I just can't wait to go do it.” That Underwood was elected as a sophomore seems remarkable, but Marshall said the changing landscape of the game and players often leaving after their third year explain the change in voting that includes underclassmen. Moore, the grizzled veteran, said Underwood’s leadership has stood out during camp. “He's vocal,” Moore said. “Having Jordan right next to him, both of them go hand in hand. (Underwood’s) talent speaks for itself, and just the progression and the steps that he's taken to be to be a leader. Quarterback is really the leader of the team. He got challenged to do that, and he accepted the challenge.” Underwood worked in the offseason with private quarterback coach Jordan Palmer and new Michigan position coach Koy Detmer. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has said Underwood has been practicing with confidence. More: Bryce Underwood has made 'big strides,' Michigan QB coach says “Feel like it's a dream come true,” Underwood said of being voted captain. “First off, it's a blessing being here in the first place. But for my teammates to trust me to be a leader, man, it's a big blessing for me.” Marshall has one of Underwood’s biggest supporters and has talked up his talent and potential, particularly this offseason. He said Underwood does much of his leading by action, but also in how he communicates with his teammates and that he seeks knowledge and constantly wants to learn. “We'll go back in the locker room and we'll talk to the defense, like, ‘What were you guys doing on this play?’ and I think that's leadership to understand not only what your teammates were thinking because maybe me and Bryce disagree on something, but to come together and learn from that,” Marshall said. “Leadership is not only and being a captain, it’s not only leading, it's also learning from each other, and I think we learn from each other every single day. “I think the biggest thing that I've seen with him is he's so much calmer and patient, and he knows sometimes it might be on him, but he takes accountability for it. Also, he’s so patient and he's calm. When we're in the huddle, he's calm. I'm like, ‘You good?’, he's like, ‘Yeah, I'm great.’ And that's the biggest thing you want from your quarterback is that confidence that we always talk about, and he just has it. He has that swagger that a quarterback needs.”
Pierce, who started every game last season, is expected to be a major force on the defensive line this fall. He joined Marshall and Underwood in Chicago late last month for Big Ten Media Days, so his trajectory toward being voted a captain seemed set. Still, he seemed like he was having a pinch-me moment hours after processing the news. “It's the biggest honor of my life,” Pierce said. “If you'd have told me as a freshman you're coming in here, three-star guy, out of high school, you'd be a captain at Michigan going into your senior year, I'd been amazed. So it's an honor.” Since he arrived as a freshman, Marshall, who has been a captain at Moeller in Cincinnati, seemed destined to be a captain. He has always carried and presented himself as a leader, so it came as no surprise he would be voted to that role. More: Jordan Marshall applies leadership skills at Michigan, in old hometown “It's always been a goal of mine,” Marshall said. “Albert Karschnia, who recruited me (and was Michigan’s director of player personnel), sent me a text the other day, and we were like talking about it before I was even committed here about (being a captain) was something I wanted to do. It kind of just got me choked up a little bit because I've truly worked my butt off to be in the position I am, and I've been through a lot of adversity through the time I've been here. “But again, there's two types of people, and they either walk away from it or they face it. And just to be in this position and have the opportunity to lead this team to do something special is so humbling. And somebody that I've looked up to, who was a captain here, was Blake Corum and Bredy (Max Bredeson), and those two people have played big roles in my in my life. (They are) people that I just look up to because how they handled their business, not only on the football field, but how they treated people. Because a captain reflects his whole football team, and these four captains, I think our team did a great job, because we all handle ourselves with respect for other people. When you have guys like that, it shows what our football team is really about.” achengelis@detroitnews.com @chengelis This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: For Michigan football quartet, being captain 'a dream come true'