PORT HURON, Mich. — The Michigan football team missed on the state’s No. 1-ranked recruit earlier this week.

But they just picked up someone nearly as good.

Four-star defensive end Braiden McGregor, the third-ranked prospect in Michigan for the 2020 class, verbally committed to Michigan on Friday during a signing ceremony at his school.

McGregor, who is listed at 6-feet-5 1/2 and 248 pounds, chose the Wolverines over Notre Dame, along with nearly three-dozen scholarship offers.

Recruiting website 247Sports’ composite lists McGregor No. 89 among the 2020 recruits (recruiting profile) and fourth nationally among all strong-side defensive ends.

Most recruiting analysts had McGregor leaning Michigan heading into the signing ceremony at Port Huron’s Northern High School, where he had hats for Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Florida, Alabama and Michigan, representing his final five five.

As a junior, McGregor totaled 99 tackles (eight for a loss), a sack and had two interceptions. He also played some tight end, catching six passes for 99 yards and three touchdowns.

McGregor is the ninth member of Michigan’s 2020 recruiting class, and the highest-ranked player yet. He is the first defensive end, a position the Wolverines are deep and talented at for the next couple of years.

Prior to the pickup, Michigan’s 2020 recruiting class now ranks 18th nationally and fifth in the Big Ten.