After initially signing with the Wolverines in April out of the transfer portal, former Missouri punter Luke Bauer is no longer with the Michigan Football program. STORY:
Former Missouri punter Luke Bauer — who signed with Michigan out of the transfer portal back in April — is no longer with the Michigan Wolverines . This was made official when the program released its 2025 fall roster , as Bauer was notably absent.
Bauer was the starting punter for the Tigers the last two seasons and transferred into Ann Arbor ahead of the 2025 season for his final year of collegiate eligibility. He was expected to compete with Hudson Hollenbeck — who started for the Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl — for the starting job this fall.
Given this development, Hollenbeck is now the heavy favorite to be the starting punter. After sitting behind Tommy Doman the last couple years. Hollenbeck earned his first career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl after Doman entered the portal after the 2024 regular season. In that game against Alabama, Hollenbeck totaled 277 yards on six punts (46.16 yards per punt average), which included a career-best 69-yard boot.
Even prior to Bauer’s reported transfer to Michigan, the coaching staff was confident in Hollenbeck’s abilities.
“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.”
However, the Wolverines brought in former Clarion punter Hunter Robertson to provide some meaningful competition to the punter battle. It would be surprising if Robertson won the starting job this year, but with Hollenbeck only having one start under his belt, he shouldn’t feel too comfortable and will have to perform consistently well to be Michigan’s starter for the entire 2025 season.