Punters don’t often get a lot of recognition, but they play an integral role. Let’s talk about Michigan punter Hudson Hollenbeck’s path to the program and his outlook for this upcoming season:
Special teams doesn’t get the attention that the offense and defense gets, but it is a massive part of football. When those guys are doing their jobs, they sometimes don’t get the recognition they deserve. When they aren’t performing well, however, everybody notices. Hudson Hollenbeck is going to be the punter for the Michigan Wolverines this season, and his role is integral to the team’s success.
The story so far
Hudson Hollenbeck is from SEC country, as he attended Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee, but he decided to come to the Big Ten for college. He was a member of the 2021 recruiting class, and he was one of the best punters in the country.
According to Kohl’s Kicking Camps, Hollenbeck was the #7 punter in his class, and he was a five-star. A lot of top programs around the country wanted him, and he decided to take his talents to the Michigan football team.
Hollenbeck hasn’t seen a lot of game action during his Michigan career yet, but his time is coming. He didn’t play at all as a freshman, but he found the field a few times during the past two years as a placeholder and once as a punter in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama.
Michigan’s offense struggled against the Crimson Tide, so Hollenbeck got a lot of opportunities to show the coaches what he’s got. He punted six times for 277 yards in that game, averaging a little over 46 yards per punt.
Outlook for 2025
Hudson Hollenbeck has patiently waited his turn, and the 2025 season will be his time to shine. He is going to be Michigan’s punter, and it’s an interesting spot to be in. Obviously, the Wolverines want to have a great player in that position, but the goal is to never let him touch the field.
Special teams doesn’t get talked about as much as other areas of the game, but Michigan fans know how important it is because of the great kickers that have come through the program in recent years. The kicking game has won Michigan multiple contests in the last few years, and punting is just as important. Being able to play the field position game is crucial in the Big Ten. Hopefully Hollenbeck can help the Michigan defense as much as possible when his number is called.