Michigan's Chase Winovich Calls Conor McGregor Big Brother

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) 

Chase Winovich chose to stay in college to pursue championships and improve his standing for the NFL draft.

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 13: Chase Winovich #15 of the Michigan Wolverines leaves the field celebrating a 38-13 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers on October 13, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

No. 5 Michigan seems to have a clear path to a Big Ten title and perhaps the College Football Playoff. And the defensive end appears to be improving his stock among pro scouts.

The fifth-year senior also is having a lot of fun along the way, trying to live his life like UFC superstar Conor McGregor, whom he has befriended.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 05: Conor McGregor poses during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena on October 05, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. McGregor will challenge UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov for his title at UFC 229 on October 6 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"Conor and I have somewhat of a relationship now," Winovich said Monday. "I met him in New York City. I've FaceTimed him twice. He follows me on Twitter. It's a pretty cool deal. He's a big brother of mine."

ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 15: Chase Winovich #15 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts to a second half tackle while playing the Southern Methodist Mustangs on September 15, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won the game 45-20. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Like McGregor, Winovich has a way with words and an ability to make headlines and stir things up on social media. He's doing it again leading into Saturday's game at home against No. 14 Penn State.

The Nittany Lions are one of four Big Ten teams that beat the Wolverines in 2017, making their game a stop on what Winovich has called a "revenge tour" this season.

BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 20: Robert Windsor #54, Ryan Bates #52 and Yetur Gross-Matos #99 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrate as they leave the field after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. Penn State won 33-28. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

"We knew we had revenge to give out on the people who were kind of bullying us, I'd say, just beating up on us last year," Winovich said. "They kind of took advantage. We were kind of in an in-between year and something about that gave me a bad taste in my mouth.

"I knew me, personally, I wanted our lunch money back and I wanted them to pay interest."

ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 22: Jordan Glasgow #29 and Chase Winovich #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate a first half sack while playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers on September 22, 2018 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

When asked about collecting interest, Winovich wouldn't elaborate.

"That's a baited question," he said with a grin. "I can't give that to Penn State."

The Nittany Lions likely wish Winovich, who is from Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, was giving them the every-snap energy he provides for one of the nation's best defenses. The Wolverines rank No. 1 in college football in total defense, giving up just 220 yards a game, and pass defense, allowing 122.9 yards per game.

IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 12: Defensive end Chase Winovich #15 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after sacking quarterback C.J. Beathard #16 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the fourth quarter on November 12, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

The 6-foot-3, 253-pound Winovich has a team-high 11 tackles for loss and is third on the team with 43 tackles even though teams often run away from him. He may have had his best game against the team that has proven to be the best, No. 3 Notre Dame, which gave up three tackles for loss to him and a total of eight tackles in a seven-point win over the Wolverines.

Winovich is regarded as the top player on Michigan's defense, getting named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year midway through the season by The Associated Press and being the conference's only defensive player on the AP's midseason All-America team . He's also a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, which recognizes college football's top defensive player.

EVANSTON, IL - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines leads his team to the field before a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on September 29, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

"He sure has been having an impressive season," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. "All ways that a defensive end can affect a game, he has found ways to do that, getting pressure on a quarterback or tackling from the backside or the frontside, hustles constantly, tipped balls."

Harbaugh also likes Winovich's style, which includes letting his blond hair flow from out his helmet and sharing his thoughts relatively unfiltered.

"He does everything at such an intense level, hard-working level, and he's gung ho as he's doing it," Harbaugh said. "It seems to be a rarer trait in individuals these days. Sometimes, younger people thinking it's more cool to have an approach that they're too cool for school as opposed to gung ho.

"Chase is definitely a throwback in my mind in the area of attacking every day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind, which I have great respect for."

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