Michigan's Braiden McGregor was born and raised in the state of Michigan, and grew up a Michigan fan. So naturally, when the offer came from the Wolverines, McGregor viewed the decision to commit to Michigan as a no-brainer.
"It was always Michigan for me, since the first visit I went there a year and a half ago," McGregor said. "Even though Notre Dame offered first, I was still comparing it to Michigan. Growing up a Michigan fan and rooting for them, not really looking at any other teams, it was really a no-brainer.
"To be able to have family here and just the coaching staff, it's a no-brainer."
As he was finishing up his final year of high school, his pathway to Michigan took on a bit of a different look when he suffered a torn MCL, PCL, and meniscus in his right knee as a senior at Port Huron Northern. Although he had the size and athleticism to contribute early as a freshman at Michigan, McGregor would instead spend his first year in Ann Arbor rehabbing his knee during the 2020 season.
As if dealing with the injury wasn't enough, McGregor - like every other college athlete across the country - was faced with the difficult circumstances surrounding the COVID pandemic that had gripped the nation. For McGregor, that first year at Michigan taught him some important lessons about trusting himself and appreciating those around him.
Appearing on a recent episode of In The Trenches with Jon Jansen, McGregor discussed his growth at Michigan.
"I would say the biggest thing, and I know it sounds cliche, but never doubt yourself," McGregor said. "Always bet on yourself. There’s a lot of times where I thought, ‘I probably won’t play football ever again.’ I was 18 years old, thinking I had all this great stuff ahead of me, and it got stripped away quick. And I had to earn it all back, that was one of the big things. And then it taught me to love my family and cherish every moment with them. Because without them, I would probably wouldn't be here or playing football. Definitely with that injury they helped out so much, my family."
As McGregor moved into his sophomore and junior seasons, you could see that the potential was certainly there for the 6-6, 261-pound edge rusher to become a dominant force at the collegiate level. The problem for McGregor wasn't a lack of talent, but rather the amount of veteran talent that was playing ahead of him - guys like Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and Mike Morris.
Toward the end of his junior season in 2022, McGregor started to feel like himself again - like he could go out and make big time plays in big time moments. Now, as he prepares for his senior season in Ann Arbor, the talented edge rusher says it's just a matter of putting everything he's learned together on the field and executing.
"I definitely think that the verge for me of breaking out is that, I was there at the end of the year. 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.
"This football season, my main goal is to put my name in that category of great Michigan defensive ends that came through here. I’ve been here with two first-rounders (Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson), should have been a third one with (David Ojabo). Mike Morris is up there, too. Just putting my name in that category of guys who have been under coach Harbaugh who have gone on to the league, and leaving a mark in this stadium. When I walk out of there for the last time, not looking back and having any regrets and just appreciating the journey. I went from watching every game my freshman year to being able to play every game my senior year".
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