Film Don't Lie | Christian Gray

By Jamie Uyeyama

July 4, 2022

6,526

It’s been quite the run for Notre Dame in the last week with numerous key commitments, but it worked out that the most important one of the group is the last.

The Irish just landed a priority target at cornerback in Christian Gray‍. With a rare combination of length and speed, Gray is one of the top corner prospects in the country and is the best one Notre Dame has landed in recent years.

It’s a huge pickup for them in their quest to build an elite defense.

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 175

Projected Position: Cornerback

ISD Grade: 92 (4-star)

National Average Grade: 93.7 (4-star)

What he does best:

He has the tools to excel in press man. Gray is long and physical and he plays the ball well.

This rep that ISD’s Christian McCollum recorded from the All-American combine shows how he can control receivers with his length and how well he can mirror in man to man.

He has the recognition skills to thrive playing in zone as well. There is zero hesitation jumping this route and breaking up the play.

Gray projects to play the boundary and no corner can succeed there that doesn’t tackle well. He checks that box.

What he needs to improve:

He needs to be more disciplined in press coverage with his footwork. He has the physical and athletic traits to be fantastic playing bump and run, but he has some technical work to do.

He’s thin right now and needs to physically develop. He uses his length pretty well right now and it will become even more of an asset once he gets stronger.

What’s his ceiling?

Gray has the potential to be one of the better boundary corners in college football. He ran 4.40 at an Ohio State camp and to be that fast with his arm length is unique, which is why he can develop into a high-end NFL prospect as well.

His physical skills remind me of former Clemson cornerback and 2021 2nd round pick, Andrew Booth. He was very good as a press/zone corner and I think Gray has the potential to do the same.