The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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24 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JUNE/JULY 2023 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL U-M LANDS LOUISVILLE KICKER FROM TRANSFER PORTAL Michigan received a boost to its special teams group with the ad- dition of former Louisville kicker James Turner, who announced his commitment April 28. Turner has two years of eligibility remaining. He is a Saline, Mich., native, hail- ing from less than 10 miles south of the Big House. He entered the transfer portal just three days prior to pledging to U-M. Turner, a two-time All-ACC honorable mention selection (2020 and 2022), had an outstanding sea- son last year, making 20 of 22 field goals for the Cardinals and 47 of 59 over three years. He set the program record for field goal percentage (90.9) and tied the school record for made field goals (20) in a season in 2022. Turner has made 142 of 145 extra points in his three years, as well, including 38 of 39 last season. On field goals, he's 18-of-19 from 20 to 29 yards and 14-of-14 from 20 to 39. He's 14-of-20 from 40 to 49 yards and 1-of-6 from 50-plus. His career long is a 50-yarder against Syracuse in 2020. Michigan junior Tommy Doman han- dled kickoff, punting and place-kicking duties during the April 1 spring game and is expected to compete at all three posi- tions. However, it's hard to juggle all that responsibility, exemplified by the fact that the Wolverines haven't had someone do all three since Kenny Allen in 2016. Now, it appears he won't have to, with Turner the new expected front-runner for the place- kicking job. Michigan also reeled in former Missis- sippi State punter/kicker Hudson Hollen- beck May 4. He was a preferred walk-on in Starkville and will have the same status in Ann Arbor. In an exclusive interview with The Wol- verine, Hollenbeck described himself as a "punter and kickoff specialist." Hollenbeck, a Collierville, Tenn., native, did not appear in game action during his freshman season in 2022. Freshman kicker Adam Samaha, an Ann Arbor Huron product, also will join the team and the kicking competition this summer. — Clayton Sayfie CHANGE TO TEXAS SERIES MADE OFFICIAL; FUTURE NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTS ANNOUNCED Michigan's nonconference slate is set through the 2026 season with the pro- gram announcing in April that Western Michigan and UTEP are its two non- Power Five conference opponents that season. The games will take place on Sept. 5 and Sept. 19, respectively. WMU also will open at Michigan on Sept. 1, 2029. The two added games will come on each side of the home game against Okla- homa on Sept. 12, 2026, the second leg of a home-and-home series with the Soon- ers. Michigan heads to Norman first on Sept. 6, 2025. The biggest confirmation in U-M's announcement was the flipped dates of the home-and- home series with Texas, which had been previously reported. As part of Texas' departure from the Big 12 to the SEC, it was requested they travel to Ann Arbor in 2024 instead of the previously planned 2027 date. The Longhorns now will make their first trip to the Big House on Sept. 7, 2024. Michigan will head to Austin on Sept. 11, 2027. As far as the immediate future goes, Michigan will play all three of its nonconference games at home in 2023, with East Caro- lina (Sept. 2), UNLV (Sept. 9) and Bowling Green (Sept. 16) coming to town. It is the second straight season without a Power Five opponent, which will no doubt be the subject of criticism at Michigan despite other elite programs doing the same. U-M also will host all three of its nonconference games at home in 2024. Fresno State kicks off the slate on Aug. 31, followed by the showdown with Texas on Sept. 7 and Arkansas State on Sept. 21. The Wolverines will have a bye on Sept. 14, 2024, and another in conference play that season. The 2025 season kicks off when New Mexico comes to Ann Arbor, followed by a trip to Oklahoma on Sept. 6 and a home date with Central Michigan on Sept. 13. — Anthony Broome ESPN ANALYST MAKES CASE FOR U-M NO. 1 PRESEASON RANKING U-M brings back one of the most tal- ent-rich rosters in college football, but is it the best team? The conversation is al- ready raging on heading into the summer. ESPN's Rece Davis, who sits in the top chair for the network's "College Game- Day" broadcasts, believes that Michigan should be in consideration for the pre- season No. 1 ranking when they are deter- mined in the next few months. "Michigan has a proven quarterback that I think is going to improve greatly this year," Davis said on a podcast re- cently. "They've got the best cornerback in America in Will Johnson. They've got FUTURE NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTS Year Opponents 2023 East Carolina Sept. 2 UNLV Sept. 9 Bowling Green Sept. 16 2024 Fresno State Aug. 31 Texas Sept. 7 Arkansas State Sept. 21 2025 New Mexico Aug. 30 at Oklahoma Sept. 6 Central Michigan Sept. 13 2026 Western Michigan Sept. 5 Oklahoma Sept. 12 UTEP Sept. 19 2027 at Texas Sept. 11 2028 at Washington Sept. 9 2029 Western Michigan Sept. 1 2033 Notre Dame Sept. 3 2034 at Notre Dame Sept. 2 Former Louisville kicker James Turner, a Saline, Mich., native, is join- ing the Wolverines from the transfer portal. A two-time honorable mention All-ACC kicker, Turner set the school record for field goal percentage (90.9) and field goals made in a season (20) last year. PHOTO COURTESY LOUISVILLE ATHLETICS