Four-star St. Louis product Christian Gray is a prototypical boundary cornerback. He can press at the line of scrimmage or meet his assignment 10 yards upfield. He can flip his hips and aggressively run with receivers.
But when it’s time to peel off and pursue a ball carrier coming in his direction, he’s quick on the jump and arrives with a high degree of physicality.
It’s this combination of skills that attracted Notre Dame and many others to Gray. Gray’s long-time affinity for Notre Dame was validated on the 4th of July when he verbally committed to the Irish over Ohio State, LSU and USC with offers from Alabama, Florida, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and others.
Gray made officials visits to LSU (June 3), Notre Dame (June 10), USC (June 16) and Ohio State (June 24).
The 6-foot-0, 185-pounder from DeSmet High School plays longer and larger than listing indicates. In coverage, he can press at the line of scrimmage and shows a quick reaction time to the moves of his opponent. He shows quality footwork as he comes out of press and transitions into coverage. He’s under control in his backpedal, light on his feet in reacting to movement, and shows a consistent level of effort and desire to make a play. Gray plays with a high degree of physical maturity.
Gray also shows coverage recognition. When working in tandem with a fellow defensive back in zone coverage, he is quick to diagnose the route of his opponent, knows when to pass off the receiver to a teammate and when to jump a route.
What makes Gray a prototypical boundary cornerback is that strong pursuit of a ball carrier, which is somewhat reminiscent of the way Nick McCloud played the boundary position two seasons ago for the Irish (despite battling shoulder problems that he brought with him from N.C. State).
Gray can mirror wide receivers with his exceptional change of direction. He makes himself difficult to shake free. He’s prepared to defend the ball in the air with balance when it arrives. He shows excellent timing coming off the edge on corner blitzes, which is all part of his “football instincts” package. He returns punts and kickoffs with sure-handedness.
Like McCloud, he relishes the opportunity to build up a head of steam and plow into a ball carrier as he works his way from pass to run defender. He is at his quickest when he transitions from backpedal to ball pursuit. (Note: Gray is a much higher-rated prospect coming out of high school than McCloud.)
Listed as a high four-star prospect, the No. 94 composite player and 247Sports’ No. 159 prospect in the Class of 2023 clocked 4.42 and 4.40 times at an Ohio State camp. Long-striding in the open field as a punt and kickoff returner man, I would surmise that his time is closer to 4.5, which in real terms of very good for a boundary corner.
Notre Dame had to wait until July 1 to gain its first cornerback commitment since long-time Irish pledge Justyn Rhett – who picked the Irish on Dec. 11 – pulled out of his commitment in mid-April and chose the Georgia Bulldogs.
Speedy Micah Bell (Houston, Texas) announced his decision to attend Notre Dame three days ago. He is the prototypical field cornerback (with ball carrier/kick-punt return skills) to Gray’s prototypical boundary fit.
In Gray, the Irish have landed a cornerback who looks like a contributor from the outset of his collegiate career and a three-year starter. This is a huge albeit a long-anticipated catch for Notre Dame.