Wisconsin native is Michigan?s top punter priority
BY JOSH HELMHOLDT
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
August 5, 2009
Zoltan Mesko has had a solid career at Michigan, but his tenure as the Wolverines? punter end after this season. That will leave East Kentwood native Chris Berry as the only true punter on Michigan?s roster and Berry has no game experience entering this season.
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As was the case with the placekicker position last year, U-M is looking to add a scholarship punter in their 2010 class and the focus has landed on Will Hagerup of Whitefish Bay, Wis. Rivals.com ranks Hagerup as the No. 4 kicker (placekicker and punters combined) in the country and renowned kicking coach Chris Sailer lists him as the No. 3 punter nationally.
?Will has as much potential as anyone in the country,? Sailer said. ?A big, tall, physical punter that has all the tools, (he) should be a great college punter.?
U-M feels equally as strong about Hagerup?s potential. He's the only punter the Wolverines have offered a scholarship to thus far. In a meeting with Rich Rodriguez earlier this summer, Hagerup recalls the U-M coach him ?you?re the one we want,? and telling him to be ready to see the field in his freshman year.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Hagerup has responded to Michigan?s overtures with mutual interest. U-M and Ohio State seem to be the teams at the top of his list and a decision is expected in September.
?Michigan is definitely one of the schools I am looking really hard at,? Hagerup said. ?(Rodriguez) said that with the combination of academics and what the football team is going to accomplish in the next few years, it?s going to be a good place for me.?