Michigan Football: 3 upperclassmen who must step up in 2022

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Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor (17) rushes against Northern Illinois running back Mason Blakemore (24) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. /

1. Braiden McGregor, DE

The potential heir to Aidan Hutchison, Braiden McGregor was one of Michigan’s prized recruits in the 2020 class and will look to make an impact in 2022.

Injuries and All-Americans ahead of him on the depth chart kept him off the field for most of his first two seasons, however he did play sparingly last year and got some action late in games. He spent the majority of the season, though, shadowing Hutchison, and now looks to take his place.

Michigan has had quite the recent history with defensive ends; eight of Jim Harbaugh’s nine defensive ends have been drafted, four of which were in the first round. McGregor is as talented as any of them, and can be the piece Michigan needs to restock a diminished defensive line.

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