Defensive back backs off his commitment to USC making weekend visit to Notre Dame
Nearly four months ago, Gary Gray stood on a stage at Richland Northeast High School and announced his college decision by unbuttoning his shirt to reveal a South Carolina Gamecocks jersey.
Now it appears Gray has hung that jersey in his closet — at least for a few months.
Gray, one of the nation’s top high school defensive backs, has backed away from his commitment to USC and decided to reconsider Notre Dame.
Richland Northeast coach Jay Frye said Gray took a second unofficial visit to Notre Dame on Thursday. The trip was initiated by his mother, who had not been able to go the first time, and her impressions of South Bend apparently influenced Gray’s decision to re-open his recruitment.
“Obviously Gary liked Notre Dame the first time. But he liked South Carolina better, so he committed to South Carolina,” Frye said. “But his mother decided she wanted to see Notre Dame. So she contacted Notre Dame, and they took the trip.”
Duane Wages, Gray’s godfather and an assistant coach at RNE, said Gray feels he rushed into a decision when he announced his intention to attend USC.
“When he made the decision, he made an uninformed decision,” Wages said. “And all parties involved, due to some circumstances, they weren’t able to make some trips. Key members and some family members felt his decision was rushed.”
Gray, who could not be reached for comment, is rated as the 26th-best senior recruit in the nation by Rivals.com. Scout.com ranks him No. 62.
Gray had seemed the firmest of USC’s commitments. When he announced his decision on March 23, he became the first member of the Gamecocks’ 2007 class and right away began urging fellow rising seniors to join him at USC.
One of those players was Spring Valley offensive lineman Quintin Richardson, who was in the audience for Gray’s March announcement. Richardson committed to the Gamecocks a few weeks later, and he said Sunday his commitment remained firm despite Gray’s new uncertainty.
“It was a surprise to me,” Richardson said. “But at the same time, teams were pressuring him. Teams are pressuring me. They won’t stop until you sign in February.”
Gray will make an official visit to USC on Sept. 9, when the Gamecocks play Georgia. He has scheduled a visit to Notre Dame the following Saturday, when the Irish play host to Michigan.
Wages said Gray will decide between the two schools “shortly thereafter.” For now, he said, the Gamecocks and Fighting Irish are on equal footing.
“He felt it was only fair that if he was looking at other schools, he’s not going to hold a spot while he’s shopping around,” Wages said. “That’s out of respect for South Carolina. They deserve to be able to go out and recruit for his spot.”
Gray’s decision to backpedal leaves the Gamecocks with four oral commitments: Richardson, T.L. Hanna running back Brian Maddox, cornerback Addison Williams of Atlanta and receiver Michael Bowman of Wadesboro, N.C.
Notre Dame and USC also are both recruiting Gray’s teammate, Mark Barnes, a receiver who is ranked No. 44 in the country by Rivals.com.
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