Following Tommy Doman’s transfer this winter, Hudson Hollenbeck and Missouri transfer Luke Bauer will compete to be Michigan’s starting punter in 2025. Here is a look at the most overlooked position battle this offseason for the Wolverines:
There are plenty of position battles to keep an eye on as the Michigan Wolverines prepare to open fall camp later this month, but the one that most people probably aren’t thinking about is the starting punter spot.
Hudson Hollenbeck and former Missouri Tiger Luke Bauer will compete for the starting gig, and the winner will have a lasting impact on how the special teams unit performs in 2025.
Hollenbeck was a highly-regarded punter coming out of high school before beginning his career at Mississippi State. He transferred to Michigan after his freshman season and sat behind Tommy Doman the last couple years. With Doman entering the transfer portal after the regular season this winter, Hollenbeck finally got his opportunity against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He certainly didn’t disappoint, totaling 277 yards on six punts (46.16 yards per punt average) and had a career-best 69-yard punt.
“I feel great with Hudson,” Michigan special teams coach JB Brown told the media this spring. “I think he’s matured a lot, especially from the game against Alabama, where he did have some good punts … I think his confidence has gone above and beyond now. I think he feels like a starter.”
Hollenbeck’s performance raised some eyebrows and put him firmly in the conversation to be the starter moving forward. However, Brown also mentioned this spring that Michigan was looking to add another punter, and it did just that when Bauer transferred to the Wolverines in April.
Bauer entered the transfer portal after starting the last two seasons at Missouri, and he has a solid résumé of his own. He has averaged 41.2 yards per punt over the past two years, and he recorded seven punts of 50 or more yards in 2024. With just one year of eligibility left, he is hoping to finish his career on a high note with the Wolverines.
Oh, and Bauer’s got a decent arm, just in the event Brown wants to dial up a fake punt.
Missouri punter Luke Bauer’s College Football Passer Rating: 757.60
1/1, 39 yards, 1 TD pic.twitter.com/jDWLA9mO8L
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 15, 2023
Bauer holds a clear edge in overall experience, but Hollenbeck has the upper hand in being familiar with Michigan’s special teams coaching staff, schemes and system. Hollenbeck had a solid bowl game performance, but will that be enough to be the guy in 2025?
Regardless, it was important to add Bauer to the team for the sake of having depth and an experienced option. If Hollenbeck wins the job to begin the season and he begins to struggle or gets hurt, the Wolverines will be just fine with Bauer.
This competition will likely be decided in fall camp, where each punter’s consistency and ability to execute in-game scenarios will be key to coming out on top. No matter who wins the job, the Wolverines have two experienced and high quality options at the position.