Michigan lands Missouri punter Luke Bauer out of transfer portal
The Michigan Wolverines have signed former Missouri punter Luke Bauer from the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Friday. U-M had a major need at the position and prioritized the spot this offseason.
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 the 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 2,047 yards (41.8 avg) and had 13 punts downed inside the opponent’s 20 yard line, along with 7 punts of 50-plus yards. Bauer was 6th in the SEC in punts and 8th in punting average and yards, respectively. He booted a season-long 61-yard punt against Iowa in the Music City Bowl. Bauer was also the holder for place kicks.
Michigan lost starting punter Tommy Doman to the transfer portal this offseason. Hudson Hollenbeck has been the team’s punter during spring ball and recently drew praise from special teams coordinator J.B. Brown.
“Yeah, I feel great with Hudson,” he said this week. “I think he’s had a really good spring. I think he’s matured a lot, especially from the game against Alabama, where he did have some good punts that we thought that could help us win the ballgame, obviously. He had the big 69-yard one, and then he pinned him a couple of times. I think his confidence has gone above and beyond now. I think he feels like a starter.
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“We want to try to get around six guys in the room, two at each spot. So looking for someone else to bring in to create that competition. But he’s done a great job this spring so far. We truly trust him.”
The addition of Bauer checks off the competition box in a big way, if not putting him in the driver’s seat to be the starter this fall at Michigan. Regardless, the Wolverines were able to cross another item off their shopping list this spring.
The spring transfer portal is open through April 25. Michigan has been labeled a team to watch with several needs to fill, namely on offense. Keep it locked here for the latest on that front.
