Missouri transfer punter Luke Bauer signs with Michigan out of NCAA Transfer Portal

Former Missouri graduate punter Luke Bauer is Big Ten-bound after signing with Michigan out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Bauer started 20 of his 26 total games over the last two seasons in Columbia, Miss., punting 71 times for 2,969 yards for an average punt of 41.82 yards with 21 punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, including six touchbacks between 2023-24. Bauer registered a career-long punt of 73 yards against LSU in 2023 and compiled more than 200 punting yards four times, including a career-best 313 punting yards last season against Alabama when he punted a career-high seven times.

Last season, Bauer punted 49 times for 2,047 yards (41.8 average), ranking sixth in the SEC in punts and eighth in punting average and punting yards.

Bauer also served as Mizzou’s holder on kicks, helping Tigers kicker Blake Craig to go 36-of-37 on point-after-attempts (PATs) and 24-of-34 on field goals in 2024.

Bauer would seemingly be in the mix to replace Tommy Doman as Michigan’s starting punter in 2025 after Doman opted to transfer to Florida in December. Doman ranked eighth in the Big Ten after punting 43 times for 2,088 yards for an average of 42.6 yards per punt in 2024.

Sherrone Moore reveals timeline for naming Michigan starting QB

As spring practice starts to wind down at Michigan, the buzz continues to grow around freshman Bryce Underwood. The top recruit in the 2025 cycle has been vying for the Wolverines’ starting quarterback job, although Sherrone Moore said a decision might not come soon.

Moore said he expects the competition between Moore, sophomore Jadyn Davis and Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene – who’s been out with an injury – to continue through fall practice. That allows the staff to put together a thorough evaluation before ultimately making a decision just prior to the first game of the year.

Looking back at his experience, Moore added the best competitions he has overseen ran into the fall. As a result, he expects to make some sort of announcement prior to the season opener against New Mexico.

“I feel like it usually carries into fall camp,” Moore said on The Hard Count with On3’s J.D. PicKell. “All the real good battles that I’ve been a part of, you can say something in spring, but then it changes. We’re going to take our time with the process of who that person is going [to be]. It’s so important. That person’s going to have the ball in their hands every single play and make so many decisions.

“So for us, it’s probably going to go into fall camp. And then, probably a week before the first game, make a decision and make the announcement then.”

— On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.