It’s no secret that Michigan football is in the middle of a cultural reset under new head coach Sherrone Moore. From his Big Ten Media Days remarks to early fall camp themes, Moore has hammered home a message of focus, discipline, and zero distractions. The Wolverines are coming off a national championship with new leadership and fresh faces. And one of the clearest signs of that shift came before fall camp even kicked off, with a no-nonsense message: lock in and shut down the distractions.
The new head coach has reportedly asked players to delete their social media accounts heading into the season. That might seem small on the surface, but it’s a major tone-setter in the age of NIL and personal branding. No tweets. No Instagram flexing. Just football. Moore wants a team that’s all-in, and to his credit, most players appear to have followed through. But despite that group mentality, fans couldn’t help but notice one pretty major exception.
Five-star quarterback commit Bryce Underwood still has his Instagram account active. He hasn’t been flooding it with content. But the account is visible and live, unlike most of the current Wolverines’ profiles. And that contrast became even more noticeable after wide receiver Donaven McCulley admitted this week that deleting his socials was tough. “It was hard at first,” McCulley said during a camp interview. “But we’ve all bought in. Coach Moore wants us focused, no outside noise, and the locker room’s been all in on that.” So when the team is unplugging, Underwood’s digital footprint naturally stands out.
#Michigan WR Donaven McCulley says it’s been hard deleting all his social media this summer, but likes the motto that HC Sherrone Moore has brought to camp with Locked In and everyone staying off social media.
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) August 4, 2025
To be fair, Underwood’s still a high school senior, but he’s no ordinary recruit. The top-ranked QB in the 2025 class, Underwood is the face of Michigan’s future and one of the most high-profile commitments of the Moore era. He’s been vocal on social media in the past, even clapping back at body-shamers earlier this summer. So it’s not just that he still has IG, it’s that he’s already shown he’s willing to speak out there when needed.
Moore’s clearly going for an all-business, no-noise identity. That means if the message is “everyone off,” then everyone means future stars, too. Bryce Underwood may not be officially in the building yet, but his influence already is. And whether it’s fair or not, fans, and likely teammates, are watching closely to see if Michigan’s most hyped newcomer will be held to the same “Locked In” standard as everyone else chasing another ring. Still, while the roster is mostly quiet, the biggest name in Michigan’s 2025 future hasn’t gone completely dark.
Moore believes Underwood is wired for the spotlight
Bryce Underwood is the No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 class and is already being talked about as the future face of Michigan football. His commitment was a statement, not just for Sherrone Moore’s recruiting chops, but for where this program is headed. And Moore clearly gets the magnitude of it. He recently said Underwood handles pressure better than any freshman he’s ever seen. “The closest was J.J. [McCarthy], and J.J. handled it really well.” That’s not just a compliment; that’s a torch being prepped for passing.
“He handles the pressure better than any freshman I’ve ever been around,” Moore said on The Michigan Insider. “The closest was J.J., and J.J. handled it really well.” Even so, the message remains clear. “I’m not promising you anything. You’ve got to go earn it.” Moore may be impressed, but the culture of accountability still applies.
In the end, it’s not about whether Underwood is posting or not; it’s about how his presence aligns with a locker room that’s trying to block out the noise. If Michigan is going to keep its edge and stay championship-caliber, that Locked In mindset needs to apply from top to bottom, stars included.
The post Bryce Underwood Might’ve Broken Sherrone Moore’s Locker Room Rule After Michigan Teammate’s Honest Confession appeared first on EssentiallySports.