The Michigan Wolverines had a long-standing, strict tradition of limiting team captains exclusively to seniors, but that appears to be a thing of the past now as the program enters a new era under head coach Kyle Whittingham this season.
Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood, running back Jordan Marshall, defensive back Rod Moore and defensive tackle Trey Pierce were voted team captains for the 2026 campaign, officially putting an end to the previous senior-only policy.
Underwood and Marshall became
the first players in modern program history to be named a team captain prior to their senior year. Not only is it an impressive individual feat for them, but it’s a sign of the program undergoing a culture shift.
“I think things have just changed around the college football landscape, and quite honestly, I don’t think your leaders are always the older guys,” Marshall said. “It’s just exciting to have your teammates look at you in that light and trust you.”
For decades and decades, being a Michigan captain was explicitly reserved for seniors or graduate students under head coaches like Bo Schembechler, Lloyd Carr and Jim Harbaugh, but Whittingham is determined to do things his own way.
Even though some fans would prefer to stick with tradition, Whittingham breaking modern precedent is a major switch in how leadership is recognized in Ann Arbor and showcases that he is simply looking for which players are the best leaders.
Underwood is heading into his second season as starting quarterback, so it’s very important for him to show significant growth as a leader. If the captaincy vote is any indication, Underwood’s teammates are confident in his ability to command.
“He has leadership skills and he’s vocal,” Moore said when asked what makes Underwood worthy of being a captain. “His talent speaks for itself and he’s taken steps to be a leader because the quarterback has to be the leader of the team.”
Marshall echoed the sentiment that Underwood is more than ready to be a captain, despite being a sophomore.
“Bryce does a lot of things by action, and he leads by how he treats people and how he communicates with people,” Marshall said. “He’s much calmer and more patient. The biggest thing you want from your quarterback is that confidence.”
Underwood also mentioned having more confidence in his leadership skills, compared to his freshman campaign.
“My overall confidence is one of the main things that I wanted to pick up,” Underwood explained. “It’s a dream come true (to be voted a captain). It’s such a big blessing. I trust those guys with everything and they trust me to be a captain.”
The historic vote that saw the former senior-only standard come to an end was a shake-up for the program, but it’s also another signal that the new coaching staff isn’t afraid to implement their own ideas and usher in a fresh way to operate.
A true leader isn’t determined by how old they are or how long they have been in college, but by how they communicate with teammates and manage the program through adversity, and Michigan’s team captains are ready to take on that task.
