The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503142
90 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY JOHN BORTON H ead coach Jim Harbaugh of- ficially lifted the curtain on senior edge Braiden McGregor last November, saying on "In- side Michigan Football" he was on the verge of stardom. McGregor himself had facilitated such a proclamation two days earlier, when he secured a tackle for loss and got his hands on a pair of C.J. Stroud passes in Michigan's 45-23 takeover of "The 'Shoe" in Colum- bus. That afternoon proved a highlight mo- ment for every man in a Michigan uniform. For one who fought his way past serious injury and formidable competition for playing time, giving the Buckeyes the boot meant everything. "I'd probably put that as a greatest feel- ing I've ever had in sports," McGregor in- sisted. "I've had a lot of good experiences, and stuff I'll always remember. But being able to do that … "I didn't play in the game when we beat them for the first time. That weighed on me a little bit. This year, going into the game, I just knew I needed to be on the field, whether it was special teams or whatever. "I ended up playing a pretty good game, making an impact. That's a game that will forever stay in my mind, that will forever be my favorite game to date." It meant so much for so many reasons. Team-wise, the victory certified Michi- gan's return as a major threat to Ohio State on an annual basis, a status that had disap- peared for far too long for the winningest team in college football history. Buckeye fans everywhere salved the wound of the Wolverines' 2021 victory at The Big House by pointing toward the inevitable devastat- ing defeat awaiting U-M in Columbus. For McGregor, it also meant he could stand tall on the big stage, not only play in the biggest contest in college athletics, but make a significant impact. It meant that all doors are now open for the former prep superstar at Port Huron (Mich.) Northern who worked and believed he could make it big even after tearing the medial collateral ligament, posterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his right knee during his senior high school season. Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has been around for the culmina- tion of that mountain climb. He knows the story well enough to fully appreciate it. "He's had a career here where he's dealt with injuries, dealt with the No. 2 pick in the draft [Aidan Hutchinson] being in front of him, other guys," Minter said. "And so, I think he's trusted the process here, and he's continued to develop at a really fast, high rate, especially coming off what he's dealt with prior. I'm really, really excited about Braiden. "I think he has a chance to be a dominant player. And the challenge for him is, he does it in spurts, and he knows this — it's to take over a game and he has that capability. So, I'm excited to see that happen." The Long Road Back McGregor spent his entire freshman sea- son at Michigan rehabilitating his injuries. While other freshmen saw the field, got talked about, created a buzz on Saturdays among 110,000 fans in Michigan Stadium, McGregor labored in relative anonymity. When his name came up in press reports, it almost felt like a "Where Are They Now" moment. The talk always involved his set- back, when he might again see the field, and if he'd ever be the same. McGregor himself wondered. "Yeah, there definitely was a point for me," he admitted. "It was my freshman year in camp. I remember coming back and sitting at the hotel room, wondering, man, I don't know if my knee is ever going to be good to where it doesn't hurt. "I was only eight or nine months post- surgery, but it was like every day, it just hurts. I thought, I don't ever think I'm go- ing to be able to play again. It sucks. "I called my mom that day. We talked about it, and she said, 'Just continue to do what they're telling you to do. They know the best. You're at Michigan. You should be good eventually.'" Eventually, Tara McGregor's words proved prophetic. McGregor's dad, Steve, separated a shoulder playing high school football and underwent surgery. He wound up still playing his senior season. The encouragement and shared past ex- periences only went so far in the moment. "It does put a lot of strain on your mental health," McGregor shared. "You love the game of football and just want to play so badly. You can't, and you just don't feel like you're ever going to play again. "Just leaning on them, and listening to what they're saying, believing the doctors and trainers here at Michigan, that really helped me out." In 2021, McGregor's sophomore season, he earned a varsity letter by getting into nine games, securing 5 tackles with a tackle for loss, along with a quarterback hurry. At that point, he felt like he could play again. But it wasn't until the opener last fall that he became convinced he'd be able to really play again. "I felt like the player I was in high school, health-wise," McGregor reflected. "I felt like myself again. "I watched Mike Mo [Morris, a fifth- round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft]. He and I talked about it, because he had surgery at the same time I did. Having people you can lean on and talk to definitely helps." Last year proved the turning point for McGregor. This year, it's time to fully de- liver, and given Minter's challenge, to de- liver consistently. Michigan will be looking for its next All-America-caliber impact player coming off the edge. McGregor plans to check that box. "In my heart, I think that I'm the next guy," he insisted. "That's the first step for me in being that guy, to believe that I am that guy. With me knowing now that it's my time — my time to take over the de- fense, my time to do what all these edge rushers who came through Michigan did — Kwity [Paye], Aidan, [David] Ojabo, Mo — it's my turn. "It's a legacy of the Michigan edges. Knowing that now, and working every THE CUTTING EDGE Braiden McGregor Ready To Slice Into Stardom McGregor started three games as an edge rusher last year, recording 16 tackles, includ- ing 5 for loss, and a pair of pass breakups in 14 games. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN