John Gay III isn't just joining Notre Dame as a safety.
According to Chaminade-Madonna head coach Dameon Jones, the Irish are getting a defender capable of lining up all over the secondary in the 2027 Florida standout, who committed to Notre Dame earlier this spring.
"He's a lockdown DB," Jones told Irish Sports Daily. "He's a physical DB, comes up and hits you. He's one of those kids where you can play all three. He can play corner, he can play nickel, he can play safety."
That versatility is one of the reasons Gay emerged as one of the country's fastest-rising defensive backs before ultimately choosing Notre Dame. He committed to the Irish in April after earning offers from schools like Miami, Michigan, Texas Tech, Missouri, Purdue and Indiana among others.
"He's a long athlete, very smart, fast, explosive," Jones said of the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder. "I think he's going to make plays at Notre Dame. It's going to be good for both parties involved."
Off the field, Gay has earned a reputation for letting his work speak for itself.
"He works his tail off," Jones said. "He's not a talker. He leads by example."
Jones believes several factors led Gay to ultimately choose the Irish, beginning with the people inside the program.
"He could have went anywhere," Jones said. "It was multiple things. He fell in love with the coaching staff, South Bend."
The existing relationship between Chaminade-Madonna and Notre Dame also helped reinforce Gay's comfort level.
Assistant wide receivers coach Shaun Shivers is a former Chaminade-Madonna standout, while Jones has developed strong relationships with head coach Marcus Freeman and running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider over the years.
"Shaun Shivers is up there," Jones said. "He's one of my former players, so they made it feel like home."
Jones believes those relationships gave him confidence when discussing Notre Dame with Gay.
"I've got a good rapport with Shaun, but I've got a real good rapport with Seider and the head guy," Jones said. "Me and the head guy are really close, so that definitely helps me well."
Asked whether those relationships made it easier to reassure Gay about the people at Notre Dame, Jones acknowledged they did. In an era when every school is selling the same vision, Jones said firsthand experience and trust carry weight.
While Gay has already established himself as one of the top defensive backs in the 2027 class, Jones believes the ceiling remains even higher.
"That's what all of them strive for, to be better across the board."
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