The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531518
32 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2025 SPECIAL TEAMS PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL BY CLAYTON SAYFIE RETURNING STARTERS Senior K Dominic Zvada The Arkansas State transfer was named a first-team All-American by Sporting News in 2024 after earning Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors. He went 21-of-22 on field goals, with a 56-yard long, and 26-of-27 on extra points. Zvada punctuated his season with 4 field goals in the 19-13 bowl win against Alabama. Including his prior two seasons with the Red Wolves, he now has a career mark of 88.7 percent (55 of 62) on field goal attempts. ANALYSIS Michigan had an up-and-down 2024 season on special teams, with some stellar play by Zvada but inconsistent punting from Doman and lackluster results from the return game. The Wolverines did change some games by blocking kicks in three straight contests (punt versus Minnesota, field goals against Washington and Illinois), but also allowed a successful fake punt against the Fighting Illini and a 38-yard punt return by Alabama's Ryan Wil- liams with less than three minutes remaining, with the defense being put in a tough position both times. There's no question Zvada was a weapon, though, and one of the best kick- ers in the country. He truly had a decision to make — he was a potential NFL Draft pick — and chose to return for his senior season in Ann Arbor. Zvada led Michigan with 89 points — 17 more than running back Kalel Mullings — and was nearly automatic on field goals and extra points. His lone missed field goal was blocked against Illinois, while his only failed PAT came in a sudden change situation following a pick six versus USC. The Wolverines averaged just 22.2 points per game in 2024, and 6.8 of them came from Zvada. They felt comfortable turning to the Chandler, Ariz., native once they hit the opposition's 35-yard line, changing the math compared to most teams. Zvada's big leg nailed 7 field goals of 50-plus yards — smashing the previous program record for not just a season but a career (Hayden Epstein, Quinn Nordin and Jake Moody with 4). He's now the U-M career record holder with a 95.5 percent field goal rate, nearly 10 percentage points ahead of second place James Turner (85.7 percent on 21 attempts). The Wolverines are looking to upgrade at punter, and while Hollenbeck is one option, they may also bring in a specialist from the NCAA transfer portal. Hollenbeck, a preferred walk-on who was in his second year at Michigan after transferring in from Mississippi State, handled the duties in the bowl game against Alabama. He impressed with a 69-yard boot that went for a touch- back and in having 2 punts downed inside the Crimson Tide 10-yard line. But he also had 3 tries of 40 yards or less. While Doman struggled this past year, too, he did have the second-longest average hangtime in the Big Ten at 4.17 seconds. Hollenbeck didn't get his attempts in the air nearly as long against Alabama, averaging 3.52 seconds. Hollenbeck deserves immense credit for the job he did holding for field goals and extra points, including in wet conditions in Tampa. At the least, that could be a job he takes over. Zvada handled kickoff duties against Alabama, after Doman did so over the better part of two seasons. — Clayton Sayfie Junior PR Semaj Morgan The wide receiver returned 9 punts for 100 yards with a 22-yard long, split- ting time in the role with Tyler Morris, a wideout who transferred to Indiana this offseason. OTHER RETURNERS Graduate LS Greg Tarr The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder appeared in two games as the backup long snapper in 2024. He's seen game action 13 times in his five-year career. Senior P Hudson Hollenbeck The backup punter this past season, he got his chance in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama, after starter Tommy Doman transferred to Florida. He punted 6 times versus the Crimson Tide, av- eraging 46.2 yards per attempt with a 69-yard long. Sophomore KR Jordan Marshall The running back dealt with injury most of the season but earned some opportunity as the kick returner when healthy. He returned 9 kicks with a 25- yard average and 63-yard long.