Four-star cornerback Christian Gray commits to Notre Dame over LSU

Notre Dame has landed a commitment from one of its most crucial targets left on the 2023 board. St. Louis De Smet class of 2023 cornerback Christian Gray has announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish on Monday.

Cornerback has not been a strength of the Notre Dame defense for quite some time, and Gray is a big-time prospect who the staff has coveted since offering him last June at the Irish Invasion camp. Gray visited Notre Dame six times after that initial visit, and following his official visit for the weekend of June 10-12, the four-star prospect locked in his commitment.

“A couple of the things about Notre Dame that is different from other colleges is that it has the most energy and what it can do for you after football is over,” Gray said. “The faith aspect is important to me too.”

According to the 2023 On3 Consensus, Gray ranks as the nation’s No. 78 player and No. 7 cornerback, plus the No. 5 recruit from his home state of Missouri.

Gray is Notre Dame’s 19th commitment in the 2023 class and fourth overall defensive back, joining safeties Adon Shuler and Peyton Bowen, and fellow cornerback Micah Bell.

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More on Gray’s commitment

Gray has been to Notre Dame for every type of visit imaginable. Camp? Check. Game day? Check. Bowl prep practice? Check. Spring visit? Check. Official visit? Check. Gray has even been to Notre Dame for a “Grill and Chill” BBQ cookout event.

Between Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens and director of recruiting Chad Bowden, the Fighting Irish put in countless hours recruiting Gray, and their efforts paid off with Gray’s pledge.

“That this is the place for me,” Gray said when asked what Mickens’ pitch to him is. “He tells me to stay consistent, stay humble and keep working because that’s what it’s all about at Notre Dame.”

“I was really excited; My mom and I were cheering for him to get the job,” Gray said about Freeman being hired as Notre Dame’s head coach. “We were so happy. That’s really big.”

“Goofy,” Gray said with a big smile and laugh when asked to describe Bowden in one word. “He’s just a funny, goofy guy who likes to play around but is serious at the right moments too. You can talk to him about anything.”

Gray’s recruitment looked to be a battle between Notre Dame and Ohio State for quite some time, but LSU became a major contender after his former high school head coach, Robert Steeples, joined the Tigers’ staff as a defensive backs coach. Interestingly enough, Steeples interviewed at Notre Dame in 2020 for the cornerbacks coach job that eventually went to Mickens. Considering how close Gray and Mickens are, this is a very impressive recruiting win for Notre Dame.

It came down to LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC for Gray. The Trojans are the school he grew up a fan of; now they’re a rival school for him.

The Christian Gray file

Gray also held offers from Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Oregon, Ole Miss, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi State and many others.

Per STL Today, Gray posted 34 tackles, two interceptions and two recovered fumbles during his junior season. He was a first-team 2021 All-Metro Catholic Conference performer.

Gray recorded blazing 40-yard dash times of 4.40 and 4.42 last summer at Ohio State’s football camp. In his first ever track meet back in March of 2021, Gray ran 11.13 in the 100-meter and a 21.93 in the 200-meter races.

When Gray joins the Notre Dame football program in 2023, he’ll be the third player from St. Louis area on the roster, joining defensive linemen Gabriel Rubio and Tyson Ford.