Michigan is being hit with bad news one blow after another. Following the end of the season, Sherrone Moore was dismissed from the head coaching position. As a result, the Wolverines are beginning to feel the impact on the recruiting trail. The first major consequence comes in the form of interior offensive lineman Bear McWhorter.

On3 reporter Ethan McDowell revealed that Bear McWhorter has withdrawn his letter of intent from Michigan. The decision comes just two days after the Wolverines fired Moore over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staff member. McWhorter, a 6-foot-3, 308-pound interior offensive lineman, is ranked No. 609 nationally and No. 58 among interior linemen.

He committed to Michigan on December 28, 2025, after narrowing his choices to five programs. His final decision came down to Michigan and Alabama, and he ultimately chose the Wolverines. McWhorter’s departure could be the first of several decommitments as the fallout from the investigation into Moore continues.

Bear McWhorter now has several options in front of him. After withdrawing his NLI, he can reopen his recruitment and take new official visits to programs that still have scholarship room. He can also re-engage with schools that previously offered him, including Texas, Miami, Florida, Georgia, Penn State, and Tennessee. McWhorter even committed to Arkansas at one point before reopening his recruitment, and he was viewed as an Alabama target because he was named after Crimson Tide legend Bear Bryant and grew up a fan of the program.

McWhorter could have also considered the transfer portal if he had already enrolled at Michigan. Under NCAA rules, the firing of a head coach triggers a 30-day transfer window for current players, giving them an opportunity to explore other schools.

For Michigan, McWhorter’s withdrawal drops the 2026 recruiting class from 27 signees to 25, and tight end Matt Ludwig also received a release from his NLI. Together, these departures add to the program’s challenges as it deals with the fallout from the Sherrone Moore investigation.

Inside Sherrone Moore’s firing from Michigan

The college football world was shaken when reports confirming Sherrone Moore’s dismissal from Michigan surfaced. U-M athletic director Warde Manuel announced the decision in an official statement.

“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” Manuel said. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”

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The staff member was not identified, and the university has released no further details. Although speculation spread on social media, none of those claims has been confirmed. According to multiple reports, the staff member provided messages and documents to the university as part of the investigation. After Moore was terminated, he was taken into custody at the Washtenaw County Jail and is scheduled for an arraignment hearing on December 12.

The allegations are violent in nature, and if Moore is found guilty of any related criminal charges, he could face significant legal penalties.