Notre Dame Football Early Signing Period | Cornerback
Notre Dame has quickly become a destination for cornerbacks under Mike Mickens and the Irish are primed to sign two of the best in the country on Wednesday.
CB Micah Bell
Ranking
ISD: 91 (4-star)
Composite: 93.3 (4-star)
Vitals
5-11, 165
The Kinkaid School (Houston, Texas)
Recruiter
Mike Mickens
Recruitment Rundown
Bell didn’t need any faux drama to his recruitment. The Texas speedster took an official visit to Notre Dame in June and it was the only official he’d take leading up to a July 1st announcement.
Bell did take unofficial visits to Baylor and Houston in June, but it was obvious nobody had come close to comparing to the Irish.
Bell’s brother is a freshman wide receiver for Georgia and the Bulldogs made a late run, but Micah has signed with the Irish.
ISD Expert Jamie Uyeyama
My biggest question with Bell and why I don’t have him rated as high as some others despite the elite athleticism is his size. He’s not long and looks shorter than his listed height.
I really like him as a pure football player, though. That’s a big reason why my comparison for him is the pre-injured version of Shaun Crawford, but faster.
He’s a super twitched up athlete with good instincts who I think can get in the mix early as a returner and has the tools to develop into a high-level nickel defender.
Favorite ISD Quote
“They showed me the best package academically and the best athletically.”
CB Christian Gray
Ranking
ISD: 92 (4-star)
Composite: 93.7 (-star)
Vitals
6-0, 175
De Smet (St. Louis, Missouri)
Recruiter
Mike Mickens
Recruitment Rundown
Illustrating his style as a recruiter, Brian Kelly didn’t chase many of the targets he’d been recruiting at Notre Dame when he bolted for LSU. Gray, who had already visited South Bend multiple times, was an exception. But it wasn’t for Kelly as much as Kelly’s cornerbacks coach Robert Steeples, the former head coach at De Smet and a true mentor for Gray. Still, the relationships he formed with Marcus Freeman, Mike Mickens and Chad Bowden coupled with all of the other opportunities at Notre Dame were too great to turn down. Gray announced his decision on the Fourth of July and never looked back, attending the majority of the Irish’s home games this fall.
ISD Expert Jamie Uyeyama
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.
Favorite ISD Quote
“I didn't expect to visit Notre Dame 11 times. I didn't know it was my 11th. I thought it was like my ninth or something.”
Under Armour Heathered Gray Notre Dame Fighting Irish All Day Raglan Pullover
