Michigan edge Braiden McGregor a favorite for 2023 breakout defender
Michigan has become Defensive End U. under head coach Jim Harbaugh, having sent several players to the NFL. Many of them are playing extremely well, including last year’s NFL rookie of the year Aidan Hutchinson. Kwity Paye, David Ojabo, Mike Danna … the list goes on.
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Last year, Harbaugh predicted Mike Morris could be next in line — and he was, winning Big Ten defensive lineman of the year. Harbaugh brought up the next guy in November … Braiden McGregor, whose play at Ohio State opened eyes. His coach called him “the guy that’s on the verge of stardom,” and McGregor is excited to live up to the hype.
“Every day at practice it’s like we’re playing Ohio State … go as hard you can,” McGregor said. “I want to win every rep [whoever] I go against. If I don’t, as I get done, I go right over to the video board and watch it, watch it, and grab any coach and say ‘hey, what do you think here?’”
He’s received positive feedback, McGregor added, starting even before spring ball.
“[Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said], ‘man, you have what it takes … it’s all mentality,” McGregor recalled. “’You know you are the same size as Aidan. You have the same physical tools, and you saw what he did with it. So … it’s your turn.’”
And he’s ready to make the most of it after a season in which he notched 17 tackles, including 5 for loss, 2 sacks and 2 passes broken up.
It’s been a long road for him, but the senior now seems primed to take that step. A serious knee injury sapped some of his athleticism and his confidence, and it took a while to bounce back and regain the mobility he’d lost. He even considered a move to tight end, doubting himself and wondering why it wasn’t “clicking” for him.
The injury, McGregor acknowledged, set him back further than he thought.
Now, though, the senior understands what’s expected, and he put in the work this offseason to be that “next guy.” The culture is such (again) that someone is expected to pick up where the last guy left off, and it’s his turn.
“This spring, it’s like, ‘All right — you’re expected to be our guy on the edge and make an impact like the guys before me. Step into their shoes,’” McGregor said. “It’s a lot different than the previous spring, but I went with it and ran with it. I like it.
“[The adversity] really made me to what I am now, where toward the end of the year, like against Ohio State … okay, so I got knocked down on a play. All right, whatever … go back [and win the] next play,” McGregor said.
“It sounds cliche, but it really was all mental for me. I’m finally past it now and feel strong mentally and physically, so I’m excited.”
So are his teammates. Linebacker Junior Colson has seen huge changes from the senior, his eyes lighting up in discussing him.
“Oh, yeah. You’re about to see something crazy this year,” he said “He’s about to have a crazy type of year. He’s stepped into his own. He believes in himself, and you can tell he has all the traits and tools to be great.”
He’ll “make his own legacy,” he added when asked about the Hutchinson comparison.
And that’s McGregor’s plan.
“Every year, I’ve been getting better at practice, but I always thought as soon as I get in games, I’m going to go 100 percent and do what I do,” he said. “But it really takes every day of practice and knowing, ‘okay — I’m going to get this block versus this team.’ Our offense runs so many different things that it’s just very beneficial to actually lock into every single practice, every single snap, so it’s just lock in and make sure that every single snap of practice that I’m doing the best I can.”
He’s well on his way, ready to make an impact the way those before him have and a legacy for the younger guys to follow.
