© Angela Driskell, Irish Breakdown
Notre Dame Cornerback Christian Gray Has The Talent And Energy To Thrive
Notre Dame sophomore corner Christian Gray talks about his development, energy and nickname
Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray has called himself “The Franchise” for about as long as he can remember. The rising sophomore picked up the moniker from his godmother, Mesho Morrow, when he was two or three years old and filled with unbridled enthusiasm.
"When I was born, I had so much energy,” Gray explained. "I just ran around the field and everything. I was tackling folks out of nowhere. Even tackling grown people and grabbing them by the leg. (Morrow) was like, ‘I’m going to call you The Franchise.’ I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ She was basically like, ‘You’re just a special kind of kid. You can do anything.’ I appreciate that.”
Morrow played basketball when she went by her maiden name, Mesho Stroughter. She still teaches the game in Gray’s home town of St. Louis, Missouri.
Gray channeled that early energy throughout his young life and into his first season as an Irish defensive back. That early energy was innate and he says the ball skills he flashed in 12 games on the field as a true freshman in 2023 are instinctive as well.
"It’s just literally natural,” stated the talented sophomore. "It’s kind of natural. Especially training with (Irish secondary coach Mike Mickens) and everything, after practice we do ball skills. He uses the ball launcher every time. Sometimes you realize, ‘How is this going to transfer to the field? This is unrelatable.’ Until you get that type of ball in the air, and I’m like, ‘Oh, shoot. It’s the same ball.’”
Gray was a key reserve last season and he entered this spring with a bigger role after the departure of Cam Hart. He became an even more vital part of the defense this spring after the injury to All-American candidate Benjamin Morrison, but Gray is taking it all in stride.
"It’s adversity,” Gray noted. "We’re DBs, it’s what we go through. We’re like, ‘OK, we have to step up to the plate.’ We have to walk up. Whoever is third string gotta be second string. Whoever is second string gotta be first string. It doesn’t matter who steps up, it’s just that we’re going to go out there and ball out. It hurts. It hurts to see our boy C-Lew. That’s our boy right there. That’s my big brother. It hurts to see him go.”
Gray and Jaden Mickey are the two Irish corners getting the lion’s share of the reps since Morrison’s injury. Mickey’s reps have primarily been on the field side, while Gray’s have been at both field and boundary.
"I’ve been at boundary a lot lately,” Grey remarked. "I’ve been working at field, too, at the same time. It’s been kind of phenomenal and great. The challenge from field is more space. In boundary, everything is much quicker. You have to react. You have to get on your feet every time. With field, it’s more space. You can be slow, patient. You understand what routes are coming and route concepts. It’s not a lot to field, but it’s a lot to process.”
Gray focused on gaining strength and foot quickness this winter after his freshman season and Mickens has seen a difference in Gray this spring.
"He's getting stronger,” Mickens said. "He's working hard with that. You can tell the game is slowing down for him now. So, now it's just going out there to play fast, make plays, do what he's naturally gifted to do.”
With Notre Dame’s spring season now winding down, Gray’s immediate goals are in focus. As the April 20 Blue - Gold Game draws near, the rising sophomore is looking to match his physical game with his mental game.
"Mostly, I just want to accomplish my dominant mindset,” Gray explained. "I used to have trouble with having a dominant mindset. Like ‘I’m going to dominate this person. I’m going to dominate this person.’ I used to have trouble with that. I’m using it right now. I have to be more consistent to it instead of just doing it in this moment and this moment. No, be consistent every time, because that’s going to make me a great player. Everyone keeps telling me, ‘You got everything.’ But I don’t have that mindset, not consistently on a daily basis, but I need it every time.”
There is still plenty of room for Gray to continue growing his game, but his natural talent, energy and instincts have him position to emerge as a playmaker for the Irish defense in 2024.
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