Thoughts on Michigan Football adding another punter/kicker
Michigan football has added another kicking specialist via the transfer portal in Hudson Hollenbeck and here are some thoughts on the move.
The transfer portal window for the spring is closed, which means that Michigan football won’t have any more departures from the 2023 roster, but it doesn’t mean the Wolverines are done making additions.
Earlier this week, Michigan football offered a transfer portal cornerback, which is a position that the Wolverines have targeted since the first transfer portal window opened in the winter.
So it’s clear they feel they have room to add players with the scholarship limits. And on Thursday, another player was added to the roster as Hudson Hollenbeck announced his commitment to Michigan football from the transfer portal.
It’s a blessing to wear the historic Maize and Blue!! Let’s get to work @UMichFootball and GO BLUE!! Special thanks to @JayHarbaugh and @JTBrown721 for believing in me and presenting me with this amazing opportunity!! I am COMMITTED to the University of Michigan!!!! pic.twitter.com/HMpstRMBQg
— Hudson Hollenbeck (@hollenbeck_h6) May 4, 2023
Thoughts on the addition of Hudson Hollenbeck
Hollenbeck was part of the 2022 recruiting class and spent last season playing for Mississippi State but didn’t see any playing time.
Michigan football just had its kicker and punter from last season, Jake Moody and Brad Robbins drafted this past weekend in the NFL draft. It was a rare instance of one program having both their kicker and punter drafted on the same weekend.
Moody also became the first kicker selected in the top 100 picks in 17 years. Robbins had a stellar career too but that also means both have to be replaced.
Michigan football took steps to address the placekicking by adding former Louisville kicker James Turner last week. He went 20-of-22 last season and has a career field goal accuracy of better than 80 percent. He’s also a Michigan native so the move made sense.
Adam Samaha is a highly-touted three-star kicker that’s joining the Wolverines for next season. Tommy Doman is also on the roster and was a kicker/punter signed in 2022.
Hollenbeck is interesting because he adds a level of competition to both spots. He was rated as a five-star-star punter coming out of high school and can also handle kickoff duties. His rating as a kicker was 4.5 according to Kohl’s Kicker ratings.
All I know is that Jay Harbaugh is among the best special teams coaches in the country and he obviously sees something in Hollenbeck that he likes.
Next. 10 biggest Michigan football draft busts of all time. dark
Whether it’s kicking off, punting, or even just depth, I like this move for the Wolverines.