Michigan punter Will Hagerup could challenge for kicking duties, too
Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez left spring practice feeling a little uneasy about his kicking situation.
“It’s an area of concern,” Rodriguez said after the Wolverines’ April 17 spring game. “Hopefully, we’ll get better at that in August.”
Brendan Gibbons, a big-legged but erratic redshirt freshman, enters fall No. 1 on the depth chart at place-kicker, but he’ll have competition from an unexpected source.
Earlier this month, Rodriguez told incoming recruit Will Hagerup, who signed in February as the replacement for punter Zoltan Mesko, he’ll be competing for the starting kicking job, too.
Jason Olesnavage, who unexpectedly beat out Gibbons for the starting job last year, graduated after a steady 11-for-15 season.
“Obviously, they recruited me as a punter, but he said that there’s always that chance and they’re going to let me try out for that job and the best guy will get the job,” Hagerup said Monday. “So certainly we’ll see how that goes and I’ve definitely been working at it, too.”
Gibbons showed a strong leg throughout spring practice, but struggled with accuracy. He made three of five field goals during kicking drills before Michigan’s spring game, missing from 35 and 47 yards, the latter after a bad snap. Michigan's other kicking options, all walk-ons, were equally inconsistent this spring.
Hagerup, rated the nation’s No. 3 kicker by Rivals.com, averaged 42.9 yards per punt and made all five of his field-goal attempts with a long of 49 yards as a senior at Whitefish Bay (Wis.) High. As taxing as it may be, he said he’s ready to pull double duty if needed this fall.
Northwestern’s Stefon Demos was the only specialist in the Big Ten to handle both kicking and punting duties last year. Demos ranked last in the league in punting and made 18 of 25 field goals (72 percent). He made just four of nine kicks over Northwestern's final three games.
“If I can compete and win the job then obviously I want to do that,” Hagerup said. “At the same time, if it turns out that punting’s the only thing I do than that’s fine, too.”
As a punter, Hagerup has big shoes to fill with the departure of four-year starter Zoltan Mesko, who was taken by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of last week’s NFL draft.
Hagerup sent Mesko a congratulations text message on Sunday, and Mesko responded with a text that said, “We both have to prove ourselves next year.”
That’s something Hagerup’s looking forward to. He’s working out and practicing his punting three or four days a week this spring, and hasn’t decided if he’s going to play summer baseball yet before heading to campus in June.
“I’m extremely excited, I’m extremely anxious,” Hagerup said. “It’s really nice to be able to enjoy my senior year and be with all my friends, but at the same time I can’t wait to get on campus and start working and prepare for hopefully a great year.”
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
mgobluegold
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 9:32 p.m.
It is interesting reading Tater's remarks on the mechanics of the two, punting and kicking. I did some research and he is correct. It is difficult to train, condition and produce, mechanically speaking of course. This is why there are so few punter/kickers in college football - it is just very difficult. The only one I know of is in the Big Ten, at Northwestern and I believe he was last in one of the two in the league. Can someone do it well? Can't say for sure, but in this world of athletes and sports - anything is possible. Can Hagerup succeed, I wish he wouldn't try. In all fairness to Gibbons, I think two freshman, Pauloski at FG and Hagerup at Punts, do the job this year.
BowlForBlue
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 4:33 p.m.
@ birketthates... I don't think we really consider msu a rival or problem, come on... they win twice every 10-12 years against Michigan (although twice in a row very rare)...my little brother used to beat me up that much, but he is still scared to death of me and has the ultimate respect for me... msu just another win notch in the Bowl Championship Wolverine season.
NoBowl4Blue
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
The king and punts go together and the results are a 8th place finish in Big Ten this year. Say bye bye to the KIng.
dell
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 9:47 a.m.
Dont forget about the walkon kicker from ann arbor pioneer. dont be surprised if he challanges for the duty. he has some pretty good high school stats and was an all state.
PortageLkBlu
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 5:44 a.m.
That's good bowlforblue if I see a football sailing by out here in the desert I'll know where it came from. I like these articles about kickers and I for one really appreciate the kicking game and the importance of it. I hear a lot of resentment around the league and from the pro's about kickers, fieldgoals (cheap wins) etc. but I think it's an important cog in the wheel and I'm glad RR is paying attention to it.
mgobluegold
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 8:40 p.m.
The only 'problems' Michigan football has are the naysayer non-fans whom make up things, stories to please their fantasies... problems, problems... there will be no problems, all UM FB faithful I have seen or heard agree, we win 10 or more games and a bowl this year... step into reality, it's called Michigan Football Family Faithful... tune to station 13-0. on your radio.
aarox
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 8:16 p.m.
given all our problems, it might seem a little disingenuous to focus on our kicking problems. but a couple of games each year are decided on missed field goals and last minute kicks. kicking probably not enough to get us by OSU/PSU/MSU/Iowa but this could make a difference with the rest of the little 6 and get us in a bowl.
Robbie Webb
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 4:53 p.m.
81wolverine, there will be no problems this year.
81wolverine
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 3:57 p.m.
Hagerup would have to break his leg to NOT win the starting job. The spring game punter was awful. Hagerup will not have the luxury of redshirting his freshman year, that's for sure. And I sure hope that Gibbons comes around and becomes a solid kicker. We're going to have enough problems next season without having to deal with bad kicking.
GoblueinNE_PA
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 3:17 p.m.
OK, Theo, now that's funny!
BowlForBlue
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 2:38 p.m.
200 yds... really, wouldn't that mess up the barbeque tailgate area? Forgot about this Pauloski guy, saw him at the spring game, looked good, need to see him under game pressure - real young kid.... have a real good feeling about Hagerup - much different situation than Gibbons coming in... stay tuned....
Terry Star21
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 1:27 p.m.
That was great to hear Mesko and Hagerup texting each other, just like Michigan Family tradition. The kicker from Northwestern didn't fare too well doing double kicking, but this Hagerup kid sure put some impressive numbers up in HS. Gibbon's was nearly in the same position coming in last season, then was beaten out - he had a powerful leg, accuracy will be his problem. I have been really impressed with the Pauloski kid on the FG's this spring, whom wasn't mentioned in the article. I look for him on FG's and Hagerup the Master of Punt.