Sherrone Moore reveals his reaction when Michigan flipped Bryce Underwood from LSU

When Sherrone Moore learned in late November that Bryce Underwood, the top prospect and quarterback in the 2025 signing class, was flipping his commitment to Michigan, the head coach couldn’t contain himself.

After first going ballistic in his own office — Moore recalled flinging his water amidst the chaos — he then was up and down the hallways at Schembechler Hall, yelling joyously about the recruiting coup. Around two weeks later, speaking on Big Ten Network on National Signing Day, Moore offered even more on his emotions that day and what it means for Michigan to have the top player in the class — and one from southeast Michigan — in the class.

“I was elated, I was ecstatic,” Moore said. “The need and the want to have not only the best player in the country but the best player in the state of Michigan. That was huge emphasis. It’s been a huge emphasis for me to make sure we command the state of Michigan. I want the best players here to come here to Michigan. Whenever this place has been great, those players have — really the footprint. Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, even the DMV, those are the players that we’ve gotten. So it’s huge for us and obviously he’s an elite player with an elite skillset. But he’s an elite kid.”

Underwood had been on the radar for Michigan coaches — and many beyond the mitten — since he was in middle school. And as a four-year starter at the varsity level for Belleville (Mich.) High School, Underwood continually dazzled at the prep level in Michigan’s own backyard.

But as he go to know Underwood and his family over the years, Moore was equally or more impressed with Underwood the person as he was the player.

“We’ve heard about him for a long, long time. Been in contact with him. And understand how good of a player he is but as you get to know the kid, it’s way deeper than just this 6-4, 215 pound kid that can sling and can run. There’s a lot of depth to him,” Moore said. “The kid loves football. He loves competing. He loves to study the game. I had a meeting with him and he said, ‘Coach, how late is the indoor open? How late can I be in the facility?’ Like, you’re not going to outwork me. So those are the things you want in your quarterback.”

Underwood’s addition to Michigan’s 2025 signing class also helped the Wolverines boost the rest of the recruiting in the stretch run. A class that ranked outside the Top 10 nationally in the On3 Industry Ranking rose to No. 6 as of 4 p.m. EST on National Signing Day.

Underwood was originally committed to LSU but flipped to Michigan late as the Wolverines lined up a significant NIL package, among other moves. Underwood and fellow Belleville product and Michigan commit Elijah Dotson had not signed their paperwork with the Wolverines as of Moore speaking on TV. However, he did not seem concerned about that.

And Moore thinks it’s inevitable that top players want to play with a top quarterback.

“I mean I think as a program obviously it helps you, right? It builds momentum,” Moore said. “I think guys want to play with a great quarterback, especially the No. 1 player in the country. It’s awesome to have that but we want to bring the best fits for Michigan and it felt like it was a great fit, obviously from a talent standpoint, but also from a culture standpoint.”