Back in 2019, one of the state of Michigan’s most talented sons sat in the stands of Crisler Center as a football visitor for a basketball game and envisioned his future. Ranked one of the best players in the country and rising at the time, Braiden McGregor was one of the most highly-sought after defensive ends nationally.
Despite having several other high-profile offers (Alabama, LSU, Florida, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and others), McGregor chose to go to the in-state school and wear a winged helmet. However, he tore his ACL in his senior season of high school, and the rising prospect found his rating drop, as well as his ability to see the field early at the college level.
Since then, it’s been a mixture of rehabbing his body as well as his confidence. McGregor got his first opportunity to see the field in 2021 and saw a little more time in 2022. But it was the games against rivals Ohio State and Michigan State that inspired confidence that he could be a viable starter for the Wolverines moving forward.
Speaking with Jon Jansen on the ‘In the Trenches’ podcast, McGregor shared why he feels he’s ready to step into a starting role and what’s different about this offseason compared to when he first arrived in Ann Arbor in 2020.
“Going back to my lessons and trusting the people that know what they’re talking about,” McGregor said. “I definitely think that the verge for me of breaking out is I was there at the end of the year. I felt like myself, I felt like I can go out there and make plays, not doubting myself, not thinking too much about the plays. And now it’s just putting it all together.
“I have what I think is everything I need to be successful. And I think just going out there every day and proving it to everybody that doubted me or everybody that I would never be the same after my injury. And proving it to myself. I’ve been through, like I said, this long journey, and I just want to make it all worth it and not have any regrets.”
Realistically, what can McGregor be in 2023? Can he emerge as one of the best in the country or is that just wishful thinking?
McGregor harkens back to some of the recent edge rushers that have come through Schembechler Hall and notes their emergence as well as the expectations within the building. For him, that’s what the goal is — to have his name resonate among the likes of his recent predecessors.
“For this football season, my main goal is put my name in that category of great Michigan defensive ends that came through here,” McGregor said. “I’ve been here with two first-rounders — should have been a third one with Jabo. Mike Morris is about to be up there too. Just putting my name in that category of guys that have been under Coach Harbaugh that go to the league. And leaving a mark in the stadium of when I walk out of there for last time, being, not looking back and having any regrets and just appreciating the journey. I went from watching every game my freshman year to playing every game my senior year.”
McGregor has a particular opportunity given that the aforementioned Mike Morris departed for the NFL while fellow high-level contributor Eyabi Okie transferred to Charlotte this offseason to follow Biff Poggi.
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