Monday Crootin: Michigan Gaining Ground on Versatile Pass Rushers Across the Country

Braiden McGregor could pass for several Michigan pass rushers of old. You can see shades of Jake Ryan, Brennan Beyer, Craig Roh in the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder from Port Huron.

Even more recently, that’s around the same size as rising sophomore end Aidan Hutchinson. Naturally with an in-state prospect who fits the mold of many past Wolverines, McGregor is feeling the Michigan defensive coaching staff.

According to Brandon Brown at The Wolverine, Michigan is a near lock to appear in the 2020 prospect’s top-10 to be released this week. Rivals Notre Dame and Ohio State are expected on that list, as well.

After an official to South Bend next weekend, McGregor is looking to make a decision around the end of April.

“I’ll be at a couple of other camps — Rivals and Under Armour,” McGregor explained to Brown. “After that I’m going to hit up Ohio State and Michigan and then I think I’ll make a decision after that.”

He vibes well with the Michigan defensive coaching staff, both old and brand new.

“Every single hire at Michigan has been a great hire. I love all of them,” McGregor said. “I sat down and talked with Coach [Josh] Gattis and Coach [Anthony] Campanile is awesome, Coach Nua is awesome. I’ve been talking to them on the daily. I’m staying in contact with them and I’m trying to set up a visit.

”On top of that, Coach [Don] Brown is texting me pretty much everyday too. It’s a good relationship with all of them there.”

Greg Mattison is his recruiter for Ohio State. He told Brown that the move to Columbus was bizarre due to all the negative things he used to say about the Buckeyes. He did clarify that the relationship was still solid.

McGregor is rapidly ascending up the recruiting rankings. He entered the calendar year outside the top-300, but 247 Sports now sees the 4-star as the No. 27 overall player, No. 3 strong side end and top player in the state of Michigan.

He would be the top commitment for the Wolverines in the 2020 cycle, joining fellow 4-stars in linebacker Osman Savage and cornerback Andre Seldon on defense.

In addition to looking for the next great defensive end, the Michigan staff is also looking for the next Devin Bush...if there is one. Anthony Campanile seems to think Hollywood (Fla.) McArthur 2020 outside linebacker Ruben Hyppolite could be.

“My coach called Coach Campanile and he informed my coach on the offer,” Hyppolite told Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider ($). “I was very excited and blessed to receive the offer.”

While Bush ended up as a low 4-star linebacker out of Hollywood Flanagan, he was a 3-star for much of his recruitment. Hypolite hails from the same hometown and ranks as a 3-star and the No. 636 overall prospect per 247 Sports.

The 6-foot, 225-pounder also sees the connection.

“I’m very interested in Michigan,” Hyppolite said. “I like Michigan a lot. They’re very competitive in one of the most competitive conferences in college football. And hopefully I can fill in the BIG shoes left by the great Devin Bush.”

Expect a ratings bump soon. He has offers from SEC powers in Auburn and LSU, as well as Florida State and Oregon.

He plans to visit after researching the program and the fanbase, but acknowledges that this offer is a game-changer.

Our next pass rusher came to Ann Arbor all the way from Provo (Utah) last weekend for a visit. BYU commit Logan Fano left with a Michigan offer, calling the whole experience “surreal.”

“Man it makes things crazy,” Fano told The Michigan Insider ($). “I thought I had an idea for where I was going to go, but this changes everything. As a little kid, Michigan was always on the TV on Saturdays and I never thought in a million years that I’d have the opportunity to be one of those guys playing. It’s surreal.”

The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has been committed to the Cougars since July 2017, but he may be rethinking things. He praised the “constructive” coaching approach by the coaches, as well as his personal familiarity with Nua from the defensive line coach’s days recruiting for Arizona State.

He also visited Stanford back in October, and came away saying similarly effusive things. It’s early in the process for the 2021, so he may just be soaking up the experiences.

He missed all of last season for the Timpview Thunderbirds with a knee injury. As a freshman, he tallied just 11 tackles and a TFL for the Utah powerhouse program. It seems Jim Harbaugh and company are betting those stats skyrocket next fall.

Last thing for basketball fans, 4-star basketball signee Jalen Wilson notched 31 points, including seven triples in a BBB All-Star game Sunday night.

The 6-foot-8. 215-pounder plans to be on campus in June to start preparing for his freshman year at Michigan.

He averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and three assists for Denton Guyer in Texas. His 3-point range should be a sight for sore eyes after the Wolverines ended the season just 1-for-19 from deep against Texas Tech in the Sweet 16.