Notre Dame football: 3 freshmen who’ll have major impacts in 2023

Notre Dame football landed one of the best recruiting classes in the nation for 2023 and Marcus Freeman seems to be building something special in South Bend.

Freeman has picked up right where Brian Kelly left off, recruiting-wise, and it looks like he’s ready to compete for a national title. Sam Hartman could be that missing piece to get Notre Dame to that next level.

But there are other newcomers who will help. Here are the three freshmen who I think will have the biggest impacts in 2023.

Notre Dame brings back most of its secondary from last year’s 9-4 team, but Christian Gray may just be too good to keep off the field. Plus, learning from guys like Cam Hart, Benjamin Morrison, Clarence Lewis, and Jaden Mickey will do wonders for his growth which it probably has all spring long as he was an early enrollee.

Gray not only has a strong 6-foot-0, 175-pound frame that allows for more muscle mass, but he was a track star in high school and that translates nicely to the cornerback position.

While I don’t think he’s going to be playing starter snaps this year, I do think the former No. 103 recruit in the nation will see the field early on and make enough plays to ensure that Marcus Freeman can’t keep him on the bench for long.

Gray has future star cornerback written all over him.