The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534644
26 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2025 BY ANTHONY BROOME T he spring portal window opened on April 16 and U-M was active early, adding a trio of signees. New Wolver- ines as of April 22 include former Mis- souri punter Luke Bauer and a pair of running backs in CJ Hester (UMass) and John Volker (Princeton). Bauer has one season of eligibility remaining after spending the first five years of his collegiate career with the Missouri Tigers. He did not see game action from 2020-22. A two-time SEC Fall Academic Honor selection, Bauer started all 13 games last season for the Tigers. He punted 49 times for a 41.8-yard average and had 13 punts downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, along with 7 punts of 50- plus yards. Bauer was sixth in the SEC in punts and eighth in punting average and yards. He booted a season-long 61- yard punt against Iowa in the Music City Bowl. Bauer was also Mizzou's holder for place kicks. Michigan lost starting punter Tommy Doman to the transfer portal (Florida) this offseason. Senior Hudson Hol- lenbeck was the team's punter during spring ball. He and Bauer will compete for the starting job in fall camp. After Benjamin Hall transferred out, the Wolverines had a need at running back. Justice Haynes, who transferred in from Alabama this winter, and sopho- more Jordan Marshall are expected to man the top two spots in the backfield, but Michigan had to address its depth a bit with some unproven pieces behind them. The staff elected to add both Hester and Volker, a pair of backs who com- bined to rush for over 1,000 yards last season at their respective schools. Last season, Hester rushed 119 times for 529 yards and 4 touchdowns at UMass after transferring in from West- ern Michigan. In 2023, he had 29 carries for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns with the Broncos. He has connections to U-M, including defensive line coach Lou Es- posito, who was with him during his freshman season in Kalamazoo in 2023. He played with wide receiver Anthony Simpson, a winter portal addition, at UMass last year. UMass is the former school of tight ends coach Steve Casula. Appearing in 29 career games, Volker rushed 245 times for 1,183 yards and 17 touchdowns at Princeton. He led the Tigers in rushing in 2024, earning All- Ivy honorable mention recognition. He registered 514 yards and 6 touchdowns on 89 rushes, adding 10 catches for 75 yards. Head coach Sherrone Moore weighed in on Michigan's remaining portal addi- tions after the spring game. "We'll evaluate this film and see where we need to go," Moore said on April 19. The Wolverines entered the portal period expected to be one of the most active teams, according to On3's Pete Nakos. Lingering needs at quarterback and wide receiver projected to be a focus in the spring window. "Bryce Underwood has looked the part of a five-star recruit this spring in Ann Arbor," Nakos wrote on April 13. "Sources have raved about his athleti- ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL U-M Adds Three Transfers To Kick Off Early Window 2025 MICHIGAN SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 30 NEW MEXICO Sept. 6 at Oklahoma Sept. 13 CENTRAL MICHIGAN Sept. 20 at Nebraska Sept. 27 Bye Oct. 4 WISCONSIN Oct. 11 at USC Oct. 18 WASHINGTON Oct. 25 at Michigan State Nov. 1 PURDUE Nov. 8 Bye Nov. 15 at Northwestern Nov. 22 at Maryland Nov. 29 OHIO STATE Former Missouri punter Luke Bauer committed to Michigan via the transfer portal. He averaged 41.8 yards per punt last season, good for eighth in the SEC. PHOTO COURTESY MISSOURI ATHLETICS