Notre Dame lands safety John Gay III over Florida, Ole Miss and Syracuse

Gay took a multi-day visit to South Bend last week, and that sealed the deal for the Fighting Irish. More than anything, he believes in the Notre Dame brand.

Notre Dame wins over three-star safety John Gay III

“It is not just about football at Notre Dame,” Gay told Rivals. “It is about life and about life after football. Notre Dame offers the best on and off the field. That was a big part of my decision.”

According to 247Sports, Gay is the No. 63 safety in the country. He finished his junior season at Chaminade-Madonna, one of the top high school programs in Florida, with 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, three passes broken up and one interception. 

Checking in at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, he's the ninth commitment to Freeman's 2027 class. It's a group that's currently ranked No. 10 nationally.

“It’s a great place, and the coaches set the standard,” Gay said of Notre Dame. “They develop players, and they produce top defensive backs every year. It fits me perfectly.”