Michigan edge Cameron Brandt goes into his sophomore year with a national championship and undefeated season under his belt. To help the Wolverines win the national title, Brandt played 14 games on special teams and eight on the defensive line.
“It feels really good not knowing what a loss is in college yet,” Brandt said. “I’m ready to keep it going, it feels really good experiencing all those wins with the team.”
Brandt, a native of Carson, is a three-time Special Teams Freshman of the Game and a Defensive Freshman of the Game.
Brandt was a stand-out student athlete at Sierra Canyon High School; as a senior, he made 55 tackles and four sacks. He also played on offense; one of his highlights was making a game-winning two-point conversion during the playoffs.
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Transitioning from Sierra Canyon to Michigan was not a challenge, according to Brandt.
“It was good for me. I was used to having to do stuff on my own, just being in that grown mindset, having to make things happen,” he said. “My parents taught me well, just how to handle myself as a man.”
The upperclassmen also set an example for Brandt both on the field and off.
“They’ve helped me develop a lot as far as just watching how they conduct themselves,” he said. “How they go about preparing for game weeks and going about their focus.”
Since he began his college career, Brandt noticed how his understanding of the game and his overall confidence has improved. He has also learned the areas in which he needs to develop.
As a student athlete at Michigan, there are personnel that hold them accountable academically. They ensure the players have access to tutoring and study hall time.
“They’re heavy on making sure we’re good on our academics,” Brandt said. “Football-wise, it’s second to none. They’re making sure we’re locked in, focused on everything. They have film dialed up, they studied everything.”
Brandt aspires to major in either engineering or mechanical engineering. Playing with LEGOs in his youth inspired him to take up the major.
“My dad, he would always have me work around the house with him,” Brandt said. “Work on the car and stuff like that.”
A proud moment for Brandt is when he helped Sierra Canyon win the Southern Section Division II Championship in 2022.
“That was a really good moment,” Brandt said. “Just seeing the impact I had on the younger guys on my team, I felt really proud about that.”
