The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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S P E C I A L T E A M S 114 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW and he's getting a lot stronger. Eventually, he will be a really good Michigan kicker," Kornblue predicted. "The only question is how fast he can really get there. He's im- proved from his freshman year to sopho- more year. "He'll be an even better kicker this Au- gust than he was in spring from what I see and have seen with him. I would predict it's going to be a strong competition for that job, which is great." Doman can kick off, too, but there's a chance last year's transfer, junior Hud- son Hollenbeck, will help take some of the workload off the punter/kickoff specialist. "Tommy is great with kickoffs, but ide- ally, I think the coaches would love to give him a break and not need him to kick off as much. They may split the duties or take it off his plate," Kornblue said. "I think Hudson Hollenbeck is right there, and he has a monster leg, as well. He showed that a little bit in the spring." But Doman can do it all, if necessary. He punted, kicked off and was the holder on kicks in all 15 games last year. On 53 punts, he averaged 44.3 yards with a 71- yard long, 26 fair catches forced and 18 punts inside the 20-yard line. "I think he's an NFL punter. He just has to continue on the track," Kornblue said. "Brad Robbins [former U-M punter now with the Cincinnati Bengals] was a little up and down but did it consistently over- all the six years he was there. … Tommy is a bigger kid than Brad. "He's a big, very athletic kid who has done a really good job holding, as well. That's an underappreciated skill set that helps the whole operation there." The other part, of course, is the long snapper, and Michigan has two really good ones. Graduate student William Wagner has 40 starts in four seasons and has been outstanding, and fellow grad Greg Tarr started nine games in 2022 when Wagner was injured. "Tarr could be a Big Ten snapper for an- other school. He's great depth, but only one can play," Kornblue said. "Wagner is the incumbent and has the edge, but Tarr is right there. He's been snapping re- ally well, gotten bigger and put on a lot of strength. They've got two really good snappers there." Finally, the return game appears to be in good hands with sophomore Semaj Mor- gan. The third-team All-Big Ten return specialist took back 12 kicks for 186 yards and returned 3 punts for 101, including a key 87-yarder that set up a touchdown in the Big Ten championship game win over Iowa. Morgan told reporters this spring that he, fellow receiver Fredrick Moore, and defensive backs Will Johnson and Zeke Berry were all working in spring practice to return punts and kickoffs. He's "the guy," though, and he had advice for those teams not familiar with them. "Don't kick it to us," he warned. Cocky, maybe, but what most are look- ing for in their return man. He could be a weapon to help provide hidden yard- age while a young offense tries to find its mojo. ❑ New Special Teams Coach J.B. Brown Appears To Have Great Potential For several years, Jay Harbaugh led the Michigan special teams to impressive heights. Kicking, punting, coverage, big returns … the Wolverines had it all, and it was consistent. With Harbaugh headed to the NFL to work with former U-M defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald on the Seattle Seahawks, it's now up to promoted analyst J.B. Brown to keep it humming. Former Michigan kicker Brandon Kornblue, founder of Kornblue Kicking School, is optimistic he will. "I've known him for a long time," Kornblue said. "He was at Texas Southern [as special teams coordina- tor], and I thought that he was a really good addition to the room. "Last year, they had a great team of coaches with Mike Mallory, who's been in the NFL on special teams, Harbaugh and J.B. Jay did an amazing job with that unit. He will definitely be missed, but I think J.B. is one of the better special teams guys in the country." So often, special teams coaches and coordinators get put in that position and they're not passionate about it or experienced with it, Kornblue noted. Not so with Brown. "It's obviously a new challenge for him being in that role with a school like Michigan," Kornblue said, insisting he's up for it. "I have a good relationship with him and think highly of him. He works hard and is good with people. "I'm excited to see where it goes. Putting all the puzzle pieces in place is the challenge of it — fitting guys together. At a place like Michigan, there are higher expectations, but you're also able to get some of those high-performing guys if you do it the right way." And if you're dedicated, which Brown appears to be. Kornblue saw Brown at a camp in Texas just after he'd taken the job. He also saw him two years ago when he was a Michigan analyst, the two crossing paths when Kornblue was visiting the Los Angeles Rams to see a special teams coach he knew. "I did a little tour, and J.B. was there. He was on a short internship with the Rams," Kornblue said. "We've crossed paths a lot of different places over the years. "He's good, and it's really hard to find really good, detailed special teams coaches with a desire to do it. So many are in it because they got placed there. I think he does it because he really wants to. When you want to do it, you're better at it, and he's still relatively young for the position." And ready — and seemingly able — to take his career to the next level at Michigan. — Chris Balas STARTERS ★★★★ ★★★★ Once again, the Michigan coaching staff has its bases covered in the kicking and punt- ing department. Tommy Doman's kickoffs are weapons, and he has the leg and experience to have one of the best seasons as a punter in Michigan history. This could be key in a season in which the offense might need some time to find itself. Arkansas State transfer Dominic Zvada, a former Lou Groza Award semifinal- ist, was a key portal addition as a placekicker, and sophomore Semaj Morgan should be a weapon as the primary return man. Graduate student William Wagner will be back as the long snapper — he's been very good. DEPTH ★★★ ★★★ Three stars here might be generous after what we saw in the spring game. Sophomore Adam Samaha is still young, but he has work to do if he's going to push Zvada for time. He missed a short field goal in the April 20 scrimmage and doesn't appear to have the big leg. There's also no obvious No. 2 behind Doman at punter. The Wolverines do have a capable backup snapper in Greg Tarr and plenty of return options behind Morgan — that's a plus. OVERALL ★★★★ ★★★★ Kicker, punter and good return man — those are the boxes you want checked head- ing into a season, and the Wolverines seem to have all of them. Doman is proven, and while Zvada has to show he can do it at this level, they obviously have confidence in him. Look for Morgan to take the next step as a return man. He is overflowing with confidence and has the skills. PRESEASON ANALYSIS