Name: Hudson Hollenbeck
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 206 lbs.
High school: Collierville (TN) Collierville
Position: Punter
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #90
Last year: I ranked Hollenbeck #45b and said he would be the starting kickoff specialist. He played in one game.
TTB Rating: N/A
Hollenbeck transferred to Michigan last season after spending his true freshman year redshirting at Mississippi State. Known for his strong leg, I thought he would be the kickoff guy, but he ended up being the holder in just one game. It was an uneventful season, which happens sometimes for backup specialists.
This year could be more of the same, or perhaps he'll achieve what I expected from him in 2023. Hollenbeck, starting punter Tommy Doman, and redshirt freshman Adam Samaha were all mentioned recently as being in the running for handling kickoffs. Additionally, Hollenbeck was the backup holder in 2023 and his position changed on MGoBlue.com from "kicker/punter" to just "punter," so he appears to be focusing on kickoffs and punting but no placekicking this year. While Doman probably has the strongest overall leg, he will be Michigan's starting punter, and the coaching staff probably doesn't want to wear out his leg. It's not the game days that wear out kickers/punters, but the practices throughout the week that don't allow for rest. If the coaching staff thinks Hollenbeck can approximate Doman's success rate - mainly by getting touchbacks - then I think Hollenbeck will be the starting kickoff guy.
The initials are "HH" and I'm doubling down.
Hopefully I don't take an "LL."
Prediction: Starting kickoff specialist and backup punter
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