Rising Michigan football defender may on the cusp of a huge breakout season in 2023

This decade, the Maize and Blue have gained recognition for their elite pass rush on defense. In 2021, stars like Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo set records, and in 2022, Mike Morris carried on the tradition. As fans witnessed last offseason, the Wolverines are currently in search of replacements for a few key edge rushers as they prepare for a new season. Braiden McGregor, a rising star Michigan football defender, shows promise and could potentially have a breakout season, contributing to Michigan’s reputation as “pass-rush U.”

Michigan football defender must step up this fall

Braiden McGregor has been with the Maize and Blue for three seasons now, although he did not see any game action during his freshman year due to the COVID-19 season. After experiencing the ups and downs of Michigan football in the 2020s, McGregor will finally have an opportunity to showcase his skills as a top pass rusher in the Big Ten this upcoming fall.

In the previous year, Mike Morris led the Wolverine defensive line. Although the Maize and Blue had less production off the edge compared to 2021, Morris and his teammates still performed at a high level within the conference and guided the Wolverines to their second consecutive Big Ten title.

A breakout season for Braiden McGregor in 2023?

While Braiden McGregor did not secure a full-time starting role in 2022, the rising Michigan football defender appeared in all 14 of Michigan’s games, making three starts of his own. He accumulated 16 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks during the impressive 13-1 campaign of the Michigan Wolverines last fall. McGregor has played in a total of 23 games during his time with the Maize and Blue, earning varsity letters in 2021 and 2022.

According to The Michigan Insider, the former four-star edge rusher believes that he is on the verge of a breakout season this fall.

“I definitely think that the verge for me of breaking out is that, I was there at the end of the year,” Braiden McGregor said ahead of the 2023 Michigan football season. “I felt like myself, I felt like I could go out there and make plays. Not doubting myself, not thinking too much on the plays, and now it’s just putting it all together.

“I have what I think is everything I need to be successful,” he continued, “and I think just going out there every day and proving it to everyone that doubted me, everyone that said I would never be the same after my injury. It’s been a long journey, and I just want to make it and not have any regrets.”

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