The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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S P E C I A L I S T S THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 115 POSITION COACH J.B. Brown is entering his second season as Michigan's special teams coor- dinator, following three years as an analyst for the program. In 2024, Brown helped Dom- inic Zvada earn Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors. As an analyst from 2021-23, Brown advised U-M's special teams, which were coordinated by Jay Harbaugh, helping the group rank third, second and 27th na- tionally in special teams FEI, an opponent- adjusted efficiency rating system. Brown has prior special teams coordina- tor experience, having served in that role at Texas Southern from 2019-20. The Tigers slot- ted seventh nationally in punt return defense both seasons and eighth in net punting in 2020. He spent the 2017 and 2018 campaigns as a graduate assistant at Houston, working with the special teams and secondary. He was a graduate assistant at Kansas from 2015-16, specializing in special teams, running backs and offensive line. Brown played second base for the University of Pacific baseball team, posting a .344 career batting average in 151 appearances, before being selected by the New York Mets in the 14th round of the 2010 MLB Draft. He is a na- tive of Alvin, Texas. RETURNING PLAYERS HUDSON HOLLENBECK • P Sr. • Collierville, Tenn. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 206 • Entering his third season at Michigan after transferring in from Mississippi State. • Played in two games as a holder and one as a punter in 2024. • Attempted 6 punts for a 46.2-yard aver- age in the ReliaQuest Bowl victory over Alabama with a long of 69 and two downed inside the 20-yard-line. • Saw time in one game to mark his Michigan debut in 2023, as the holder on an extra point against Indiana. • Did not see game action as a freshman at Mississippi State. • Kohl's Kicking ranked him as the No. 7 prep punter in the nation in 2022. GREG TARR • LS Gr. • Romeo, Mich. Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 215 • Saw action in two games in 2024, snapping on 1 punt (versus Alabama) and 1 ex- tra point (Northwestern) as a fifth-year senior. • Played in two games in 2023, snapping for 1 PAT against each of Indiana and Michigan State. • Appeared in 10 games in 2022 with nine starts, taking over the primary snapping duties after William Wagner was injured against Iowa. • Did not see game action in his first two seasons at Michigan (2020-21). • Polynesian All-American Bowl participant and five-star prospect according to Rubio Long Snapping, which regarded him as the No. 6 snapper in his recruiting class. DOMINIC ZVADA • K Sr. • Chandler, Ariz. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 180 • Converted on 21 of his 22 field goal attempts with a 56-yard long and went 26- of-27 on extra points in 2024. • Tabbed as a first-team All-American by Sporting News, a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection and the conference's Kicker of the Year. • Became U-M's single-season and career record-holder with 7 made field goals of 50-plus yards. • Named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, bestowed upon the best kicker in the nation. • Came to Ann Arbor after two seasons at Arkansas State and was the second-ranked kicker to transfer after the 2023 season per the On3 Industry Ranking. • Named to the Lou Groza Award watch list ahead of the 2023 campaign, before mak- ing 17 of his 22 field goal attempts and all 41 of his PATs. • Connected on 8 of 10 attempts of 40-plus yards with a 53-yard long as a sophomore. • Nailed 17 of 18 field goals in 2022, adding a 30-of-31 mark on extra points as a fresh- man. That total includes 6-of-7 from 40- plus yards with a long of 56 yards. • Received a five-star rating from Kohl's Kick- ing and was ranked the No. 45 prep kicker in the nation as a 2022 prospect. Year GP PAT FG Long Points 2022* 12 30-31 17-18 56 81 2023* 13 41-41 17-22 53 92 2024 13 26-27 21-22 56 89 Total 39 97-99 55-62 56 262 * at Arkansas State NEWCOMERS LUKE BAUER • P Gr. • St. Louis Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 207 • Transferred in ahead of the 2025 campaign following five seasons at Missouri. • Averaged 41.8 yards per punt with 13 downed in- side the opponent 20-yard line and 5 touchbacks in 13 games in 2024. • Played in 13 outings in 2023, attempting 22 punts with a 41.9-yard average. Eight of his kicks pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line. • Didn't play in his first three seasons at Mis- souri (2020-22). Year GP Punts Avg. FC I20 Long 2023* 13 22 41.9 7 8 73 2024* 13 49 41.8 16 13 62 Total 26 71 41.8 23 21 73 * at Missouri TRENT MIDDLETON • LS Jr. • Fullerton, Calif. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 230 • Spent two seasons at UCLA before transferring to Mich- igan. • Ranked as the No. 8 long snapper in the NCAA transfer portal, per On3. • Hasn't seen game action as a college player. BECKHAM SUNDERLAND • K Sr. • Newport, Ky. Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 201 • Transferred after one sea- son at Texas State. • Appeared in two games in 2024, registering 8 kickoffs for 530 yards (66.3-yard average) with 6 touchbacks. He went 1-for-1 on extra points. • Previously a goalkeeper for FC Cincinnati, an American professional soccer club. • Appeared in 14 career matches with 12 starts in the MLS Next Pro, a league that features reserve players from the MLS and independent clubs. QUICK FACTS Position Coach: J.B. Brown (2nd year as as- sistant coach, after 3 seasons as an analyst) Returning Starter: K Dominic Zvada Departing Starters: P Tommy Doman, LS William Wagner Projected New Starters: P Luke Bauer, LS Greg Tarr Top Reserves: P Hudson Hollenbeck, LS Trent Middleton, K Beckham Sunderland Wait Until 2026: Middleton, Sunderland Newcomers: Bauer, Middleton, Sunderland Rookie Impact: None Most Improved Player: Tarr Best Pro Prospect: Zvada