The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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S P E C I A L I S T S 112 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY JOHN BORTON M ichigan secured plenty of talent via recruiting and the transfer portal to reinvigorate last year's struggling offense. Perhaps the biggest boost didn't come through a new arrival, but rather via retention. When senior placekicker Dominic Zvada confirmed his return in the No. 96 Michigan uniform, it meant U-M's high- est scorer from 2024 is back — and much more. Zvada's team-leading 89 points arrived via, arguably, the greatest season ever put together by a Michigan kicker. He set the record for percentage makes on field goals (21 of 22, 95.5 percent), and his 7 field goals of 50-plus yards blew away the previous mark (4). He earned first-team All-America honors from Sporting News and second- team plaudits from the Associated Press. The Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year proved an easy choice for first- team All-Big Ten honors, and Michigan's Specialist of the Year earned semifinalist honors for the Lou Groza Award. In short, Zvada's a winner, noted Bran- don Kornblue, founder of Kornblue Kick- ing, a nationally recognized company molding kickers, punters and snappers. The former Michigan placekicker has ob- served the finest kickers in the country and sees the U-M senior among them. "He obviously has shown that he's been one of the best," Kornblue said. "It was a great season that cer- tainly helped the team last year. In a unique world of the transfer portal, it was good t h a t h e c o u l d come in and just help right away. We've got a really good one there." Despite Zvada's near-perfect mark on field goals and his big-time range, Korn- blue wasn't particularly surprised that he returned to Michigan for a final sea- son in maize and blue. "I always try to encourage and help guys," said Kornblue. "Jake Moody and I had that conver- sation. Quinn Nordin and I, same thing. I under- stand the draw to leave and get that challenge at the next level. "At the same time, there is nothing like college, especially at Michigan. As long as you're happy and enjoy that environ- ment — which most guys obviously do — I encourage them to stay as long as you can. "Obviously with NIL, that's a whole new world, where it's made it much eas- ier for him to have the incentives to stay. He was able to financially be rewarded for his great performances. "And there's always a risk. No matter how good you were in col- lege, there's no guarantee you'll get an opportunity to be the guy at the next level. It's just so competitive. "I think it was a really smart move on his part. It gives him another year to get a little bit bigger and stronger. He's obvi- ously strong. The NFL kickoff rules right now might help him to where he doesn't have to be a big-leg guy. "That's the one thing he hasn't showed as much of, on a consistent basis. I think he can do it, but NFL teams haven't nec- essarily seen that from him yet." Asked if he's familiar with Zvada's backup this season, Kornblue laughed. "I am — he lives in my house," Korn- blue quipped. Beckham Sunderland, a senior who In his first year at Michigan, kicker Dominic Zvada be- came the Wolverines' single- season and career leader in field goal makes of 50-plus yards (7), connecting on 21 of 22 overall and earning Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL DOM-inating Dominic Zvada Puts A Charge Into Michigan Special Teams FIELD GOALS Season Player Made Att. Long 2024 Dominic Zvada 21 22 56 2023 James Turner 18 21 50 2022 Jake Moody 29 35 59 2021 Jake Moody 23 25 52 2020* Quinn Nordin 2 5 46 2019 Quinn Nordin 10 13 57 2018 Quinn Nordin 11 16 50 2017 Quinn Nordin 19 24 55 2016 Kenny Allen 19 23 51 2015 Kenny Allen 18 22 47 * Only played six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic PUNTING Season Player Att. Avg. Long 2024 Tommy Doman 49 42.6 68 2023 Tommy Doman 53 44.3 71 2022 Brad Robbins 43 42.3 64 2021 Brad Robbins 45 46.3 65 2020* Brad Robbins 23 45.3 66 2019 Will Hart 51 44.2 61 2018 Will Hart 43 47.0 65 2017 Brad Robbins 64 40.4 58 2016 Kenny Allen 54 43.3 67 2015 Blake O'Neill 53 41.3 80 * Only played six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic Season-By-Season Kicking Leaders