Michigan adds punter, kicker, snapper via portal to stabilize ST
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The bad thing about the transfer portal is that you can lose your players to it. The good thing about it is if you lose players, you can shore up position groups in a hurry.
Such is the case for (somewhat) new special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs, who has had to quickly revamp the unit. With Michigan football set to lose longsnapper Greg Tarr, punter Hudson Hollenbeck, and kickers Dominic Zvada and Beckham Sunderland, and not many heirs apparent on the roster, there needed to be some moves, and fast.
The Wolverines haven't had a ton of transfer portal additions just yet, but where it's gotten them has all been on special teams. First, Michigan managed to snag Pitt longsnapper Nico Crawford — not exactly the sexiest transfer portal addition of a cycle, but certainly a necessary one.
Welcome to Michigan, @Nico_Crawford23! 〽️ pic.twitter.com/7soDW3zdGg
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 8, 2026
Then, they went after UNLV freshman punter Cam Brown, who had 46 punts in 2025 for 2,015 yards (43.8 yards per punt).
Welcome to Michigan, Cameron! 〽️ pic.twitter.com/e4XaaDDlOn
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 8, 2026
On Thursday, the Wolverines added their third transfer portal commitment in freshman place kicker Trey Butkowski from Pitt. With the Panthers, he was 20-for-23 and made 43-of-44 extra point attempts.
Michigan has signed Pittsburgh freshman kicker Trey Butkowski, @mzenitz and I have learned for @CBSSports.
He went 20-for-23 this season on field goal attempts. https://t.co/ArLr7xN7iJpic.twitter.com/cphTXwnyin
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 8, 2026
If nothing else, this shores up the special teams — something that often goes overlooked, but certainly cannot given the level of importance the unit plays.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football quickly rebuilds special teams with transfer portal
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