BREAKING | 2025 DE CJ May Commits To Notre Dame

By Christian McCollum

September 23, 2023

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About 90 minutes before the start of Notre Dame’s game against Ohio State in South Bend on Saturday night, head coach Marcus Freeman got some good news when CJ May‍ told him he was committing to the Irish.

“I thought he was going to pass out,” the 2025 Alabama defensive end told Irish Sports Daily.

The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder joins running back Daniel Anderson‍, who also announced his commitment on Saturday, along with running back Justin Thurman‍, defensive tackle Davion Dixon‍ and his good friend quarterback Deuce Knight‍ in the Irish’s 2025 class.

“I've been thinking on this decision for a long time at this point,” May told ISD. “I just felt like it was a good time to pull the trigger, knowing I had more 2025 guys up there.

“Me and Deuce Knight are like best friends. I felt like that his choice, helped persuade mine a little bit more. He was calling me every day, every day like, 'Come on bro, come on.' We are pretty close and have a tight bond. It kind of made me feel good about it. It was a heart-driven choice, honestly.”

May chose the Irish over offers from schools like Georgia, Clemson, Miami, Penn State, Auburn and several others.

“The reason I think Notre Dame is a great spot for me is because number one, I'm trying to get my education first,” he said. “We know football isn't going to last forever and I think getting that Notre Dame degree, I'm going to be set for rest of my life and I'll be setting a great standard.”

Despite the Irish’s loss to the Buckeyes, May enjoyed the atmosphere inside Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night.

“It was a great atmosphere. It was one of the best atmosphere games I've been to my whole life. It was a great game. The atmosphere was rabid, non-stop.”