Bears Pick Up Longhorns Portal Transfer Punter Michael Kern

With expanded scholarship rosters, the Bears continued to add depth and competition on their special teams units with the addition of University of Texas punter Michael Kern‍ through the portal today.

The 6-3/195 soph started for the Longhorns in the College Football Playoff run season this year, averaging 41.7 yards per punt with a long of 57 and 10 punts fair caught inside the 20 while battle injuries his frosh season in 2024.

Kern was rated the #4 punter in the nation by 247 as a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, punting 25 times for 1,158 yards to average 46.3 yards per punt, with 14 out of 25 punts downed inside the 20. He was also named to the prestigious Under Armour All-American Bowl.

Kern will battle with early portal period signee Brook Honore for the starting punter position for the Bears in 2025.