2024 four-star wide receiver Micah Gilbert commits to Notre Dame

The Notre Dame football commitment train kept on chugging with another pledge from a Charlotte (N.C.) Christian standout. On Tuesday, 2024 four-star wide receiver Micah Gilbert announced his verbal commitment in favor of the Irish. 

Gilbert’s decision comes three days after his high school teammate, 2024 four-star EDGE Bryce Young, revealed his Notre Dame commitment last Saturday. Both visited for the Blue-Gold Game on April 22 and discovered that Notre Dame is the school they’d like to call home.

“What they can provide for me on the field and after football,” said Gilbert, explaining why Notre Dame was the best choice. “They have a great football program but even more to provide off the field. That’s very big for me.”

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Gilbert chose Notre Dame over Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. Each one of those schools made his top seven on April 8.

Gilbert is the No. 223 overall player, No. 38 wide receiver and No. 4 prospect in North Carolina, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

Twenty-one schools offered Gilbert, including BYU, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The Irish entered the mix for Gilbert on Feb. 13 when Notre Dame wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey offered him a scholarship. 

Gilbert accompanies four-star recruits Cam Williams and Isiah Canion as the third wide receiver pledge in the 2024 class. Canion also visited Notre Dame for the Blue-Gold Game weekend. He and Gilbert are two of five players to commit to the Irish since April 22.

Over the last 10 days, Notre Dame has also secured verbal commitments in 2024 from Young, three-star vyper (linebacker/defensive end) Cole Mullins and three-star safety Kennedy Urlacher. 2025 defensive tackle Davion Dixon, a three-star recruit, shut down his recruitment in favor of Notre Dame on April 21.

Gilbert joins Young and four-star tight end commit Jack Larsen — a product of Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic — as Notre Dame’s three pledges from North Carolina. When they sign with the Irish, it will mark the second consecutive year Notre Dame has added at least two commits from the Tar Heel State. In 2022, they signed offensive linemen Sullivan Absher and Sam Pendleton.

The Irish have never signed a wide receiver from North Carolina in the internet recruiting era (since 2002).

Gilbert goes in-depth on Notre Dame commitment

When Gilbert announced his top seven schools, Duke and Notre Dame were the only two he had not reported visiting. Still, the Irish gained momentum behind the scenes and secured Gilbert’s silent commitment during his first trip to South Bend.

“At different times, I had different leaders,” Gilbert told On3 director of recruiting Chad Simmons. “The recruiting process can change in a moment. At different times, Michigan, South Carolina and even Duke had the lead for me. For the past month to two months, that is when Notre Dame pulled away.

“I went into the visit for their spring game with Notre Dame on top, and I knew on that visit that is where I was going. It just took me getting on campus.”

During Gilbert’s visit, the Irish checked all his boxes, which made his decision a no-brainer.

“Notre Dame has that pedigree,” he told Simmons. “I love what they have done in the past. They have a great reputation on and off the field. The visit pushed them over the top. Everywhere I went, I had my list of requirements. Notre Dame had everything I was looking for. …

“The main things: I am a big education guy, so that and the life after football Notre Dame offers sold me. Then, my ability to play for an independent that can play anyone in the nation. The education, the school, the coaches – everything fits me at Notre Dame.”

Notre Dame 2024 quarterback commit CJ Carr comments on Gilbert’s commitment

Leading up to Gilbert’s first Notre Dame visit, he and Irish 2024 quarterback commit CJ Carr connected on social media. And after several weeks of online conversations, Gilbert and Carr hit it off during their first in-person meeting.

“He’s a funny guy,” Carr said. “He’s awesome. But he is also really dedicated. You could tell by how he talked: he said, ‘When I get here, there’s not gonna be any distractions. We’re all football.’ That’s exactly what a quarterback wants to hear.”

The Micah Gilbert File

Gilbert is coming off a junior season in which he hauled in 39 passes for 486 yards and six touchdowns in seven games. However, a finger injury cut his season short. Still, he earned first-team all-conference Charlotte Independent School Athletic Association (CISAA) accolades for his performance during the first seven games.

He had 40 receptions for 534 yards and three touchdowns the year before. 

Gilbert is also a standout basketball player and received second-team all-conference honors in basketball last season.