2025 PFN Player Preview: Getting to Know Upper Dauphin OL/DL Braiden McCartney

Tagged under: District 3, News, Player Previews

Billy Splain | July 18, 2025

Braiden McCartney
OL/DL
Upper Dauphin Area
Class Of 2026
Jersey #58
HT/WT 6’3 265
30+ Tackles and Pancakes
Other sports Wrestling
All League Tackle
Twitter @mccartneyb_

Coach says: “Interior lineman, he’s technician. Has great footwork and power angles”.

Let’s get to know Braiden!

Why do you play football?

I play for Mike Carroll who has past a few years ago. He was a father figure to me and he’s the reason I put the pads on.

Who is your favorite sports star and WHY?

Saquon Barkley is my favorite because it was so awesome watching him at Penn State run all over every defense. He’s a big reason why I love the game of football.

Do you have a favorite play you remember the most? Explain:

Getting the goal line stop against Steel High as time ran out into halftime. That was huge for us. The energy we brought into the locker room was like non other.

What was last years season like for you?

Not up to par, hindered slightly by injury, but this year will be a big one for me.

What are your goals for this coming season?

0 sacks allowed, 8+ win season, stay healthy, get after the QB on defense.

Who is the best player you ever lined up against?

We played Messiah Mickens when I was at Halifax and he was at Trinity. It’s super tough to bring him down and he’s very shifty.

What game, yours, college or pro, was your favorite game you watched and why?

It’s gotta be either 2017 Penn State vs Iowa or 2018 Oklahoma vs Georgia. These games all came down to the wire and I remember watching all them live with my family.

Describe what the perfect teammate is

A vocal leader, active in the weight room, pushing the team through adversity, but also a caring individual who wants the best for his teammates.

Tell everyone why you think football is good for a community

No other sport can bring a whole town together to rally behind a high school team on a Friday night other than football. Where I come from, the standard is you go to the Friday night game to support your team, it brings all of us together as one.

Name one thing that you’d love to do in football that may never happen?

I think all lineman want just 1 chance to carry the ball or get a touchdown, that would be the dream.

Who is your mentor, the person you want to be like? WHY?

My cousin Macklin Ayers is who I aspire to be like. He’s a great football player, but an even better person off the field. I think everyone should strive to be like him.

What is your favorite practice drill? What is your least favorite practice drill?

I love when we do actual pass rush 1v1s at practice, even though we don’t do them often, it’s always fun to get after it and be a little competitive. My least favorite drill is the chute, it gets annoying after awhile.

Preseason Two a Days are: 

Hard, exhausting, but worth it. It brings us together as a family because we’re all going through it together. It tells us what kind of teammate and person we are. It shows whether we’re gonna quit when we’re tired with 2 minutes left in a game, or if we’re gonna push through with everything we got to win.

Is there anyone in your family, besides your parents, you could consider your biggest fan? Who, Why?

My gram is my biggest fan. She supports me with everything and is at every event, camp, or game possible.

When you aren’t playing, practicing or training for sports, what is your go to activity and why?

I golf a lot during my free time. I might not be amazing at it, but I like to think I’m an average player.

What is your favorite play to run?

A counter play that I can get into space and show my athleticism. I love laying people out when pulling.

is a hot dog a sandwich? If not, then why? 

I’d say it is, the hot dog is surrounded by bread so it I think it fits the description.

Music of choice:

Any Drake.

Best thing you ever got from a teammate? Why?

NFL jerseys.

Best Pizza topping? 

Chicken and BBQ

What is your favorite vacation destination?

Outer Banks

Do you remember what the first football game you saw was?

The first real game I was ever at was a Penn State white out game, it was a crazy first experience.

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