The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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BY CLAYTON SAYFIE H ead coach Sherrone Moore spoke for 45 minutes at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas, and senior kicker Dominic Zvada's name didn't come up once — but certainly not because the position isn't im- portant or the player isn't good. Zvada is one of the key figures on the Wol- verines' team in 2025, after being snubbed for the Lou Groza Award last season. He wasn't even a finalist for being named the nation's top placekicker, which has only added fuel to the fire. Last season, Zvada made 21 of 22 field goal attempts for Michigan, including 7 from 50- plus yards, which stands as a program single- season and career record. The Wolverines feel comfortable offen- sively once they reach the 35-yard line. "Normally, I give them my line where the ball is spotted at the 35, which is a 53-yard kick," Zvada said. "If there's wind or we're feeling something different, I'm usually next to [head] Coach [Sherrone] Moore before we go out, and I'll give him a nod that we're good to go or that I need a couple more yards. Usually, we start around a 53-yard kick, but that can change." Zvada has hit up to 67 yards in practice and thinks he can take a 70-plus yard shot at the buzzer if needed. This season, the Chandler, Ariz., native is competing for the kickoff job, too, after Tommy Doman left for Florida. The unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection did it in the 19-13 ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama, booting 4 touchbacks on 6 attempts. Senior Beckham Sunderland — a Texas State transfer and former MLS soccer player — is competing for that job and backing him up at placekicker. "He's been a really good test," Zvada said of Sunderland, a Newport, Ky., native. "We've been competing back and forth. It'll be fun to see who goes and gets the opportunity. He's a really good player, as well. On kickoff, we're going to be really good and do everything else we did last year very well." Senior punter Hudson Hollenbeck waited his turn, backing up Doman the last two sea- sons after transferring in from Mississippi State, and has locked up U-M's fourth-down job. He handled punting duties in the bowl game following Doman's departure, averag- ing 46.2 yards per attempt on 6 kicks. "I try to work as hard as I can to keep my- self in a good position, and it's finally come to fruition," Hollenbeck said of earning his role. "I'm just blessed." Just before fall camp began, the Maize and Blue brought in Huntington Woods, Mich., na- tive Hunter Robertson, a junior transfer from Division II Clarion (Pa.). He'll serve as depth. Hollenbeck also is Michigan's holder, mean- ing he takes countless snaps from graduate student Greg Tarr. A sixth-year senior, Tarr has experience, even though he's mostly served as a backup. He was the Wolverines' long snap- per in 10 games in 2022, after William Wagner went down with a season-ending knee injury. "He's throwing great snaps," Hollenbeck said of Tarr. "I trust him." Michigan is working on several different op- tions at punt and kick returner, with junior wide- out Semaj Morgan being the most notable. "I'm catching punts and kickoffs," Morgan said. "They like me at those positions. … I just want the ball." Morgan is a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten selection as a return specialist. He returned 9 punts with a 11.1-yard average and 10-yard long in 2024. ❑ Zvada, who set the U-M career record with 7 field goals made of 50-plus yards, has hit up to 67 yards in practice and thinks he can take a 70-plus yard shot at the buzzer if needed. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL KICKER No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 96 Dominic Zvada 6-3 187 Sr./1 92 Beckham Sunderland 6-1 216 Sr./2 Note: Sunderland is a viable option should something happen to Zvada. Michigan feels it has the best kicker in America. In fact, college football analyst Phil Steele told The Wolverine he was surprised Zvada didn't jump to the NFL after last season. Sophomore Stuart Blake, a walk-on, has spring game experience. PUNTER No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 90 Hudson Hollenbeck 6-2 206 Sr./2 93 Hunter Robertson 6-4 205 Jr./2 Note: The Wolverines wanted to add another punter and did so just in the nick of time, bringing in Robertson to back up Hollenbeck. LONG SNAPPER No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 45 Greg Tarr 6-2 220 Gr./1 67 Trent Middleton 6-2 225 Jr./3 Note: Tarr has experience, having been the starter for the majority of the 2022 campaign, while Middleton will have time to develop behind the scenes. KICK RETURNER No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 0 Semaj Morgan 5-10 174 Jr./2 25 Micah Ka'apana 5-11 190 So./4 Note: A lot of Wolverines are working on kick returns, including Mor- gan, Ka'apana, freshman Andrew Marsh and sophomore I'Marion Stewart. PUNT RETURNER No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 0 Semaj Morgan 5-10 174 Jr./2 4 Andrew Marsh 6-0 190 Fr./4 Note: Morgan mentioned that he's hoping to return kicks as a way to get the ball in his hands, too. He did so in 2023, but wasn't the man at the position in 2024. 32 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2025 The Wolverine's Projected 2025 Depth Chart — Special Teams DOMINANT Michigan's Special Teams Are Led By Dominic Zvada