Michigan football punter who committed in spring from SEC school has retired
A former SEC punter who committed to Michigan football last spring is not on the team's roster.
Luke Bauer, who pledged to join the Wolverines after leaving Missouri, has instead decided to retire. Program spokesman Dave Ablauf first confirmed that Bauer was not a part of the program after the fall roster was released and he did not appear on it, then Bauer expanded upon his decision in a social media message.
"Yes, retired moving on from football and into the business world," Bauer told the Free Press. "This was a personal and family decision which was best for me to move on."
Bauer started for Missouri the past two seasons and in 2024, had 49 punts for more than 2,000 yards (41.8 yards per attempt). Seven of his attempts went 50 yards or more, while he had 13 punts downed inside the opponent 20-yard line compared to five touchbacks. Bauer ranked eighth in the SEC in punt average.
The year prior he had 22 punts and his average (41.9) was slightly better, however that came in part because of the longest punt of his career, which traveled 73 yards. Bauer, who completed a fake-punt pass for a 39-yard touchdown against Kentucky in 2023, is 6-foot-5 and 207 pounds and was thought to be competition for U-M's other SEC transfer punter, Hudson Hollenbeck from Mississippi State, who backed up Tommy Doman last year.
Michigan did obtain some punting competition, adding Huntington Woods, Mich., native (Berkley High School) and former Division II punter from Pennsylvania (Clarion) Hunter Robinson to the mix this past week. Robinson averaged 43.2 yards per punt on 51 attempts last season.
Though Bauer didn't play for the Wolverines, he said he still feels fondly about the program.
"Loved meeting the coaches and players," he said. "Will be watching and rooting them on this season!!!"
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
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