One of the first texts Braiden McGregor received when college coaches were allowed to contact potential recruits last Saturday was from Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

It was 4 a.m.

“Nebraska sent a text first, then coach Harbaugh text me like 4 o’clock in the morning,’’ McGregor said. “He said ‘hey, I heard you’re going to the (Notre Dame) game. It should be a good game and it should be nice to see Michigan beat Notre Dame.’ Obviously, that didn’t happen. I think I got 40 to 50 text messages and a couple of phone calls. I just got off the phone with Louisville. It has been pretty crazy.’’

Before last Saturday, Port Huron Northern coach Larry Roelens said Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Indiana along with the Mid-American Conference schools had been calling.

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McGregor made his third trip to South Bend to watch the Notre Dame victory over the Wolverines in person. Both schools are recruiting the Port Huron Northern strongside defensive end. At 6-feet-5, 235-pounds, the 3-star junior is ranked by 247Sports Composite as the 19th-best strongside defensive end in the country and the eighth-best player in the state of Michigan. Crystal Ball predictions have the race down to U-M and Notre Dame.

The junior isn’t saying, but Indiana, and Iowa have also offered as his list continues to grow. He said he’d probably narrow down his list, which is around 18, “a month or two after the season.’’

Notre Dame contacts him, a lot. So does Michigan.

“I’m going to look at what fits me the best,’’ McGregor said. “My relationship with the position coach, then the head coach. My relationship with the strength and conditioning coach as well. I’m going to look at academics too, because football doesn’t last forever. I don’t really think how close the school is to home is a factor for me. I like being close to home, but I’m going where I’m most comfortable.’’

It’s rare for Northern to produce a player of McGregor’s caliber, but he has merited the attention. Teams are now running away from his side, forcing Roelens to move McGregor around.

“Oh my gosh don’t even get more started with that,’’ McGregor said. “It’s real annoying, but I guess they’re respecting me. It’s still annoying.’’

He played the HAWK position in the 26-15 victory against St. Clair Shores Lakeview.

“Now, I’m playing middle linebacker and they can’t run away from me unless they just throw the ball,’’ McGregor said.

Said Roelens: “There has only been a handful of kids at the school who have been Division 1. He’s probably the most highly-recruited player in our school’s history. He’s just a great kid in general. He’s and athletic 6-5, 250-pound kid. He has great hands and strength. In college it depends on where they see him. I could see him being a prototype tight end being that big and strong and athletic with great hands. Also, with his length I could see him being a great defensive end. It depends on who gets him and where they see him playing.’’

Contact Perry A. Farrell: pafarrell@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @farrellperry.