Larry Brown Sports

Brown Bag it, Baby

Blog

Son of late ESPN reporter lands head football coach job

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Alex Mortensen, the son of late former ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen, has landed his first college football head coach gig.

The University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) is making Mortensen their next head coach. Mort is being promoted from interim head coach to full-time head coach. He took over the job midseason when Trent Dilfer was fired. Under Mortensen, UAB went 2-4, including a win over a ranked Memphis team. The Blazers went 4-8 overall and were 2-4 under both Dilfer and Mortensen. Dilfer was 9-21 overall in his two-plus seasons as the school’s head coach.

Mortensen, who just turned 40, played quarterback in college at Arkansas and Samford. He spent some time with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.

Mortensen went into coaching in 2012 and served as an analyst for Alabama for six total seasons over two separate stints. He got a big break when Dilfer hired him to join his UAB staff as the offensive coordinator. He was promoted to interim head coach after Dilfer was fired in October.

Alex’s father Chris was a journalist who began his career in 1969. Chris was known for his decades spent as an NFL reporter and TV analyst for ESPN before his death last year.

Billy Napier has landed a new head coach job

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Billy Napier was fired in October following a disappointing stint as the head coach at Florida, but he didn’t remain out of work for long.

James Madison is set to make Napier their new head coach. Napier reportedly is getting a 5-year deal, and an announcement is expected to be made on Saturday.

Napier will be replacing Bob Chesney, who is taking the UCLA job. Chesney will continue to coach JMU in the Sun Belt Conference championship game against Troy. JMU has a chance to make the College Football Playoff if they win that game, and Chesney is expected to coach the team through the end of its season before leaving for UCLA.

Napier, 46, went just 22-23 overall and 12-16 in SEC play in three-plus seasons at Florida. He had just one winning season with the Gators. However, Napier had a history of success at Louisiana-Lafayette, which helped him earn the Florida job. Napier went 40-12 with the Ragin’ Cajuns and had three double-digit win seasons.

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer addresses the laughable rumor about him

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Kalen DeBoer has one of the best jobs in college football, and the Alabama coach has no intention of voluntarily giving it up anytime soon.

DeBoer is in his second season at Alabama and looking to lead the team to a College Football Playoff appearance. The Crimson Tide can accomplish that either via an automatic berth with a win over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday or an at-large bid.

There has been some recent talk that DeBoer might have interest in Penn State, which is still searching for a new head coach. DeBoer was asked about those unrealistic rumors on Thursday, and he emphatically shot them down.

“We are extremely happy at Alabama. That’s the first time I’ve been asked, so I appreciate you, Charlie. We are extremely happy here, love the challenge, love the grind, love this place,” DeBoer said. “There’s never been any link, there’s never been any conversation, there’s never been any interest either way. So, I’m glad we can put that to bed right now.”

Alabama went 9-4 last year and did not reach the College Football Playoff. That was unfamiliar territory for the school after Nick Saban’s reign of dominance. The Crimson Tide have looked better in DeBoer’s second year, however, and already beat Georgia this season. Alabama s 10-2 and could conceivably make the playoff with a loss to Georgia on Saturday, despite missing the CFP when they were 9-3 last year.

Either way, it does not sound like DeBoer has given any thought to leaving. Though he had some surprising complaints after last season, DeBoer has one of the most coveted jobs in college football. There was never a chance he was going to leave it for Penn State, barring something completely unexpected.

College lacrosse coach Liam Gleason dies following accident at his home

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

A Division I college lacrosse coach has died following a tragic accident at his home.

Liam Gleason, the head lacrosse coach at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., died on Wednesday after he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall at his home three days prior. Gleason was 41.

“A sudden, senseless loss carries a kind of pain that defies understanding,” Siena president Chuck Seifert said in a statement. “It’s hard to imagine anyone more universally loved and admired than Liam. Our community was blessed by Coach Gleason’s life.”

No further details about the incident were immediately available.

Gleason leaves behind a wife Jaclyn and three children — daughter Kennedy and sons Penn and Tate.

Gleason had been the head coach at Siena since 2018. He was named the ECAC and MAAC Coach of the Year last season after leading the Saints to the MAAC Tournament Championship. Siena finished 11-4 and was nationally ranked for the first time in well over a decade.

Before he went into coaching, Gleason was a star player at Albany, which is one of Siena’s biggest rivals. He began his coaching career as a defensive coordinator for Siena in 2008 and then coached as an assistant at Albany before returning to Siena as head coach.

Former All-Pro does not want to play for Bills after being claimed

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprising move on Tuesday when they cut Darius Slay, and it sounds like the veteran cornerback might have been angling to join one specific team for the remainder of the season.

Slay had been a healthy scratch in Week 13 and seemingly fallen out of favor in Pittsburgh, so the two sides mutually agreed to part ways. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Slay, a former All-Pro, wants to continue to play.

Since Slay was released between the trade deadline and the end of the season, NFL rules required him to clear waivers before he could become a free agent. That did not happen, as the Buffalo Bills put in a claim for the 34-year-old.

Slay does not want to play for Buffalo, however. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported on Thursday that Slay has informed the Bills he will not report to the team and is contemplating retirement.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media speculates that Slay may have wanted to return to the Philadelphia Eagles, whom he played for from 2020-2024. The Eagles also put in a claim for Slay, but the Bills had a higher waiver priority.

The Bills now hold Slay’s rights, so he is not free to sign with the Eagles or any other team.

Slay has made the Pro Bowl six times during his career and was an All-Pro in 2017. He had previously expressed interest in returning to a different team he played for earlier in his career.

Given what Schefter reported earlier in the week, it seems like Slay wanted to continue playing but not in Buffalo.

Fans all said the same thing about Russell Wilson landing a gig with CBS

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Russell Wilson has landed a temporary media role while the New York Giants are on their Week 14 bye, and fans are convinced the gig will be a glimpse into the near future for the veteran quarterback.

CBS announced on Thursday that Wilson is joining the network as a guest analyst for Week 14. While the 37-year-old will presumably return to his job as a backup quarterback in New York’s Week 15 game against the Washington Commanders, the temporary role could be a sign of things to come.

There is a wide-ranging belief that Wilson is planning to retire after the 2025 season and transition to a full-time media career.

Wilson landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season after the Denver Broncos moved on from him. The Steelers then chose not to bring Wilson back despite reaching the playoffs with him. Wilson signed with the Giants this past offseason and entered the year as the starter, but he quickly lost his job to Jaxson Dart. He has since fallen to third on the depth chart behind both Dart and Jameis Winston.

Simply put, Wilson is running out of options. He could likely find work as a backup in 2026, but he may not have interest in doing that. Transitioning to a full-time TV analyst role might sound more appealing to the former Super Bowl champion at this stage in his life.

Vanderbilt explored a desperation move to improve their College Football Playoff chances

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Vanderbilt is going to be left out of the College Football Playoff this year barring some sort of miracle, and the Commodores reportedly explored a desperation move in an attempt to change that outcome before the rankings are finalized.

The latest College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday night, and Vanderbilt came in at No. 14. With the 10-2 Commodores not playing in the SEC Championship Game, there is virtually no way for them to move up far enough in the rankings to receive consideration for an at-large bid.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Vanderbilt explored the possibility of adding a 13th game to their schedule in hopes of showcasing that they deserve a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff field. Not surprisingly, there were too many obstacles to make it happen.

It is unclear which teams Vanderbilt looked into facing or whether school officials even got that far. Had they managed to schedule a game, it would not have counted toward their overall record. The goal would have been to give the College Football Playoff selection committee another game to use to evaluate Vanderbilt, but there are many reasons why committee members probably would not have been comfortable factoring it in, anyway.

Vanderbilt had an excellent season, with its only two losses coming against ranked SEC opponents in Alabama and Texas. One thing working against them is that they do not have a win against a team that finished in the top 25 in the final regular-season CFP rankings. South Carolina, LSU, Tennessee and Missouri were all ranked at the time Vanderbilt beat them, but that is no longer the case.

Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea recently called out the CFP selection committee over what he perceives as a bias toward his team. Many fans would likely agree, but the bottom line is Vanderbilt could only afford one loss with the way the season turned out.

Report offers strong hint about George Pickens’ future with Cowboys

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

George Pickens has looked like a perfect fit with the Dallas Cowboys since they acquired him in an offseason trade, but the star wide receiver is only under contract with the team for a few more months. That does not mean Jerry Jones is going to let Pickens walk.

Pickens, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round in 2022, is in the final year of his rookie contract. There have been doubts about whether the Cowboys will be able to afford to re-sign him, especially with CeeDee Lamb under contract at an average of $34 million per year for several more seasons.

Of course, the franchise tag is an option. According to a story that was published on Thursday by ESPN’s Todd Archer and Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys are willing to go that route. When discussing that possibility, one Cowboys source had a blunt message for ESPN.

“He ain’t leaving,” the source said of Pickens.

Jones has made it clear that he wants Pickens back in 2026. The Cowboys have the ability to make that happen, and there is not much Pickens can do about it. Though, the star wide receiver could hold out and become a headache in Dallas if he does not want to play under the franchise tag. Pickens had some character issues with the Steelers before he was traded, so that is something the Cowboys need to take into consideration.

The franchise tag figure for a wide receiver in 2026 is estimated to be around $27 million, which would be a bargain for Pickens given how he has performed this season. Through 12 games, Pickens has already set career highs across the board with 73 catches, 1,142 yards and 8 touchdowns.

If the Cowboys make a postseason run and Pickens is a big part of it, that will probably inspire them even more to find a way to keep the 24-year-old with the team. The question is whether a long-term deal is feasible, but the franchise tag would be a logical starting point.

Tyronn Lue addresses report of his rift with Chris Paul

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Los Angeles Clippers stunned the NBA on Wednesday when they abruptly moved on from Chris Paul, and there have been reports suggesting Paul’s poor relationship with Tyronn Lue played a role in that decision. The Clippers coach has now weighed in on the situation.

Paul shared a message on his Instagram story just before 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning revealing that he “just found out I’m being sent home.” The post included a peace sign emoji but no context. A short while later, the Clippers confirmed that they have decided to move on from Paul.

Reports then surfaced that Paul had been trying to hold Clippers players, coaches and management accountable amid a terrible start to the season. CP3 and Lue supposedly have not been on speaking terms for weeks.

Lue told reporters on Wednesday evening that Paul just “wasn’t a fit” with the Clippers. The coach said the organization made the decision to move on. When asked if he played a role in that decision, Lue was careful with his response.

“It just wasn’t a good fit and we understood that. It was an (organizational decision). They made the choice. … I just think that it wasn’t a good fit for what he was looking for, and it is what it is,” Lue said. “Do I want to see CP go out like this? No. I have a lot of respect for him. He’s been a friend of mine over the years. You never want to see a great go out like this, but I’m pretty sure he will find something because he’s a great player. I didn’t want to see it end like this.”

The interesting part was that Lue said the situation with Paul in L.A. wasn’t a good fit “for what he was looking for.” That would seemingly suggest that Paul became unhappy, and some might point to a recent social media post as further evidence of that.

Paul was not a significant part of Lue’s rotation. The 12-time All-Star appeared in 16 games and averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists while playing just 14.3 minutes per game. The Clippers are 6-16 this season.

Paul signed a one-year deal with the Clippers over the summer and looked like he was going to finish his NBA career in L.A. He previously played for the team for a large portion of his prime from 2011 to 2017. Instead of a happy ending, it looks like Paul is already trolling the team in the wake of his departure.

Devin Williams takes a parting shot at Yankees fans

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Devin Williams is flashing the bird to New York Yankees fans on his way out the door.

The former All-Star closer Williams agreed to a big deal in free agency with the rival New York Mets earlier this week. Williams landed a three-year deal from the Mets with an interesting structure.

In a post to his Instagram Story on Wednesday, Williams got a parting shot in at Yankees fans. Williams apparently received hostile messages about his move to the Mets and decided to poke fun at those who sent them.

“For a bunch of people that didn’t want me back on your team, yall sure are mad in the DM’s,” Williams wrote along with a laughing-face emoji.

The two-time NL Reliever of the Year Williams was acquired by the Yankees in a trade last offseason with the Milwaukee Brewers. But Williams had a very bumpy 2025 season, going 4-6 with a 4.79 ERA and even being removed from the closer role at one point in the year. As a result, Yankees fans often expressed their frustrations online with Williams throughout the season.

Making matters even worse was that the Yankees changed a longstanding team policy for Williams’ sake … only for Williams to leave after just one year. But to all of the Yankees fans that have hard feelings for him now, Williams is simply just pointing and laughing.

Isaiah Stewart gets ejected after an incident with Bobby Portis

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Two of the most confrontational players in the NBA got into it during Wednesday’s game.

The Detroit Pistons faced off Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. During the third quarter at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisc., Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart had an incident with Bucks counterpart Bobby Portis after Portis fouled him on a shot attempt.

The two players got into each other’s faces and seemingly exchanged expletives. Stewart then made a fist in Portis’ face, leading to Portis grabbing Stewart’s arm before teammates and referees stepped in to separate the two.

Take a look at the video.

Stewart and Portis received double technical fouls for the incident, but Stewart got ejected since it was his second technical foul of the game. Pistons forward Ausar Thompson subbed in to replace Stewart and take his free throws, but the Bucks went on to win the game by a 113-109 final score.

The 24-year-old Stewart has a long history of fighting opponents, getting ejected for striking one last season and even getting suspended the season before that for punching an opponent in the back of the arena before a game. But the 30-year-old Portis is no stranger to fisticuffs either, having been ejected from a playoff game for shoving an opponent and once even putting his own teammate in the hospital with a punch thrown during practice.

Fans all said the same thing about Blue Jays meeting with Kyle Tucker

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Toronto Blue Jays fans are trying hard not to fall for the pump-fake again.

The Blue Jays met on Wednesday with top free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker, Robert Murray of FanSided reported. The meeting reportedly took place at Toronto’s facility in Dunedin, Fla., which is very close to Tucker’s hometown of Tampa, Fla.

In response to the meeting, fans all said the same thing over social media. They compared Toronto’s meeting with Tucker to the Shohei Ohtani free agency situation from two years ago during which planes were being tracked.

Prior to signing with the Dodgers in 2023, Ohtani met with the Blue Jays and even seemed at one point to be Toronto-bound. A flight to Toronto allegedly carrying Ohtani was even tracked extensively online, but that plane ultimately ended up having the wrong celebrity on it instead. Days later, Ohtani decided to join the Dodgers as a free agent instead, leaving the Blue Jays reportedly feeling like they were used.

As for the four-time All-Star Tucker, he is perhaps the single most coveted free agent hitter on the market this offseason. He is not expected to return to the Chicago Cubs in free agency, opening the door for a bidding war for Tucker’s services.

Toronto fans did unfortunately get a repeat in 2024 of the Ohtani situation when Juan Soto, the top available free agent prize that offseason, met with them but eventually decided to sign with the New York Mets. Now the Blue Jays faithful will be hoping that lightning doesn’t strike in the same place thrice amid the meeting with Tucker.

Chris Paul appears to troll Clippers with his latest social media post

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Chris Paul is having a little bit of fun after being banished from Verona.

The LA Clippers stunned the basketball world on Wednesday by sending home the 12-time All-Star Paul home in the middle of the night during an East Cost road trip. Paul, arguably the greatest Clipper of all-time, will no longer be with the team, bringing what should have been a feel-good retirement tour for Paul in his final NBA season to an unceremonious end.

In response later in the day Wednesday, Paul appeared to troll the Clippers on his Instagram page. Posting to both his Instagram Story and his normal feed, Paul shared that he was on FaceTime with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, two other ex-Clippers stars.

Paul, Griffin, and Jordan played together from 2011-17, headling the Clippers’ iconic “Lob City” era. But Griffin, who was dumped by the Clippers in a 2018 trade just months after signing a long-term contract extension to remain in Los Angeles, and Jordan, who left in free agency later in 2018, both had acrimonious endings to their time with the Clippers as well.

Of course, Paul’s situation right now is a bit different since he was on his second tour of duty with the Clippers and knew from the start that he would have a diminished role at 40 years old. But the saga still got extremely ugly with reports emerging on Wednesday that Paul was not even on speaking terms with Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue.

Things might not get much better from Paul from here as it is possible that he won’t even get a chance from another NBA team. But that is not stopping the The Point God from having some fun for the time being.

Astros linked to 1 All-Star pitcher in trade rumors

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Houston Astros may be ready to come of their hibernation.

Houston is interested in a potential trade for Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan, MLB reporter Jon Heyman revealed on Wednesday during an appearance on “B/R Walkoff.” Heyman notes that the Astros would like to add another pitcher to pair with ace Hunter Brown.

The Astros, who went 87-75 last season but missed the playoffs, have some key free agents this winter. Most notably, two-time All-Star lefty Framber Valdez is a free agent and is expected to leave the team.

As for the righty Ryan, he went 13-10 last season with a 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts through 30 total starts. At 29 years old, Ryan still has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, making him an attractive potential trade chip.

The Twins were 70-92 overall last season and sold off most of their roster at the midseason trade deadline. One of their other longtime mainstays was also just mentioned this week as a trade candidate, and now Ryan could be joining that conversation as well.

Meanwhile, Houston already made a notable trade last month by selling off one of their former World Series team standouts. If they would like to replenish their talent cupboard a bit, Ryan would be a very strong option for the Astros to consider.

Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves game with a concerning non-contact injury

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Giannis Antetokounmpo situation in Milwaukee may have just taken an unfortunate twist.

The Milwaukee Bucks star Antetokounmpo suffered a worrisome non-contact injury during Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. In the very first quarter at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisc., Antetokounmpo went down after driving to the basket and assisting teammate AJ Green on a layup.

It appeared that Antetokounmpo hurt himself while attempting to jog back up the floor, heightening the concerns. Here is the video.

The former NBA MVP Antetokounmpo was able to walk gingerly off the floor under his own power. But he was very quickly ruled out for the rest of the game by the Bucks with what they termed a “right calf strain.”

This concerning development comes amid fresh speculation earlier in the day about Antetokounmpo’s future with Milwaukee. A report broke on Wednesday revealing that Antetokounmpo requested a trade from the Bucks before the season. Milwaukee entered play against Detroit at just 9-13 on the season as well, so it appears that the situation has only gotten worse.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers gave a fiery response before Wednesday’s game to the Antetokounmpo trade rumors. But that all might be a moot point right now if the 30-year-old star forward has to miss extended time due to the troubling injury that he suffered there against the Pistons.

Doc Rivers has firm response to Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers is clearly exhausted of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors, but they are not going away.

Rivers had to address speculation about Antetokounmpo’s future again on Wednesday after a new report indicated that the star forward had requested a trade before the season. Rivers unenthusiastically tried to shoot the report down, but he seemed well aware his denial would do nothing to stop the rumors.

“So here we go again,” Rivers said. “There’s been no conversations. I want to make it clear for the 50th time. Giannis has never asked to be traded — ever. I can’t make that more clear.”

For his part, Antetokounmpo has also denied speculation about wanting a trade. The subject keeps coming up, however, and he has made it clear in the past that he expects to play for a contender every year. With the Bucks off to a 9-13 start, it was perhaps inevitable that the topic was going to be brought up again.

Even if Antetokounmpo has not directly asked for a trade, it does sound like he is at least considering his future. The Bucks are likely in for a turbulent few weeks, especially if their play remains inconsistent.

Dodgers bring back a World Series hero

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing back a World Series hero for one more season.

Infielder Miguel Rojas is re-signing with the Dodgers on a one-year deal, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase. The deal is for $5.5 million, and Rojas plans to retire at the end of the contract.

Alvarez-Montes noted that Rojas intends to remain with the Dodgers in a player development role once he retires.

Rojas played 114 games for the Dodgers last season and hit .262 with seven home runs. His most significant contribution, however, came in Game 7 of the World Series, when he hit a shocking home run to tie the game with one out in the ninth inning. Without that unlikely contribution, the Dodgers probably would not have won a second consecutive championship.

Rojas will turn 37 in February. He will likely fulfill the same utility role he did for the Dodgers this season, but he has probably already made his most significant contribution to the organization.

Chris Paul might not sign with a new team

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Los Angeles Clippers’ decision to send Chris Paul home may mark the end of his playing career.

The Clippers made the shocking decision to part ways with Paul, though it is unclear how the team intends to remove him from the roster. No matter what, Paul might find it difficult to latch on with another team if he wants to do that.

Paul is “unlikely” to join another team, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. That may have as much to do with other teams as it does with Paul himself, as organizations are expected to be wary of both his age and his powerful voice within a locker room.

Reports indicate that Paul’s vocal criticism of the Clippers led to significant issues, particularly with coach Tyronn Lue. No team wants to bring in Paul, invite that criticism, and see their locker room destabilized by it.

Paul also has not been terribly effective this season in his limited playing time. The 12-time All-Star appeared in 16 games and averaged 2.9 points and 3.3 assists while playing just 14.3 minutes per game.

The veteran point guard had already indicated that he plans to retire at the end of the season, and a big part of the reason he joined the Clippers at all was that he would be able to see his family. He might not want to give that up to play out the rest of the season anyway, though it would be a poor ending to his Hall of Fame career.

Penn State had the most humiliating Signing Day

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Penn State Nittany Lions are struggling to conclude their coaching search, and it is having ramifications across the rest of the program.

The Nittany Lions only landed two commitments on Wednesday, the start of the early signing period. A number of other recruits, including two alone on Wednesday, chose to flip to Virginia Tech to play for former Penn State coach James Franklin.

The pitiful signing day haul left the Nittany Lions with the No. 150 ranked class in the nation, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

Typically a recruiting power, the Nittany Lions are slipping because they do not have a head coach. Franklin was fired on Oct. 30, and Penn State probably expected to have a new coach by now when they made the move. Instead, they have been turned down by all their leading targets, and it is not clear where they might turn next.

When Penn State made its move, the jobs at Florida and LSU had not yet opened up, and the school was probably confident it would have its pick of candidates. That has not happened, and the uncertainty is driving away recruits and threatening to derail their entire offseason.

Michigan has fired 1 of its coaches

by
LinkedInRedditThreadsWhatsApp

The Michigan Wolverines have fired one of their coaches.

Michigan has fired J.B. Brown, who was in his second year as the football team’s special teams coordinator. Brown had previously served as an analyst for Michigan for three years.

“After thoroughly evaluating our special teams’ performance throughout the season, I made the decision to make a change that was in the best interest of the program. I want to thank J.B. Brown for his unwavering dedication and the positive impact he’s had on our players and program. We are grateful for his commitment, and I wish him nothing but success as he continues his coaching career,” head coach Sherrone Moore said of the move.

Though Michigan’s kicking game was strong in 2024, the team’s special teams units were bad in 2025. Kicker Dominic Zvada fell off, a year after being a first-team All-American. He made just 16/22 (68 percent) of his field goal attempts in 2025. Punter Hudson Hollenbeck averaged 43 yards per punt and completely shanked one against Ohio State.

The team also had issues with both its kickoff and punt coverage. They replaced their punt returner Semaj Morgan during the season after he struggled with poor returns and fumbles. Michigan’s 1.9 yards per punt return was second-worst in the Big Ten.

ESPN had Michigan’s special teams efficiency rated 117th in the country. The Wolverines are 9-3 and lost 27-9 to Ohio State last weekend.

  • Read more stories

Football

College Football

Basketball

Baseball

Media

Headlines

  • i want more great stories!

Sign up today for free and get the best sports content sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy.

.
LBS iPhone App
Get the App

Get instantly notified of the most viral news stories via Google!