Name: Tommy Doman
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 215 lbs.
High school: Orchard Lake (MI) St. Mary’s
Position: Kicker/Punter
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #19
Last year: I ranked Doman #44 and said he would be a backup kicker/punter (LINK). He was 2/2 on extra points and punted 1 time for 41 yards.
TTB Rating: N/A
Michigan has mostly been very good on special teams since Jim Harbaugh was hired in 2015.
Going into the 2023 season, there are more questions on special teams than in any other year.
Jake Moody and Brad Robbins were selected by the 49ers and the Bengals, respectively, and returner A.J. Henning transferred to Northwestern. That leaves the unproven Doman, freshman Adam Samaha, Louisville transfer James Turner, and redshirt freshman transfer Hudson Hollenbeck to duke it out for kicking duties.
Doman was a highly valued kicking prospect coming out of high school, but he hasn't had much of a shot to show his stuff at the college level. He kicked a couple extra points during blowouts last year, and he punted once, too. The hope is that he can step up rather seamlessly, but Moody and Robbins were both pretty dang good, which is why they both got drafted. My feel is that Doman will end up serving as the punter, and perhaps Hollenbeck can push him a little bit. Doman averaged 44.8 yards per punt as a high school senior, but sometimes those averages are fortified by high school punt returners who are too afraid to touch the ball, so they just let it bounce and roll. If he can replicate that number as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, Michigan should be in decent shape.
Prediction: Starting punter
Id put both specialists a little lower because there are some decent backup alternatives and neither is a proven asset.
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