4-star Notre Dame safety commit shuts down Mario Cristobal's flip attempt

Four-star safety Zayden Gamble, a Notre Dame commit from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, has shut down Miami's latest flip attempt and remains locked in with the Fighting Irish.

Gamble reaffirmed his pledge to Notre Dame this week, with the local standout saying, "It feels really good knowing where I'll be headed for my next few years."

Zayden Gamble remains locked in with Notre Dame

Gamble committed to Notre Dame on April 25 after choosing the Fighting Irish over Miami, Florida and Ohio State. At the time, it was one of Notre Dame's biggest recruiting wins.

The On3/Rivals Industry Ranking lists Gamble as the No. 142 overall player, No. 10 safety and No. 15 player in Florida. Gamble put up 65 tackles, three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, three interceptions and one forced fumble in 2025, when St. Thomas Aquinas won its seventh straight state title. He also finished his sophomore season with 21 tackles and four interceptions.

The Hurricanes have the No. 2 class in the country in the On3/Rivals Industry team rankings, but elite South Florida defensive backs are always going to be priority targets. Gamble plays at St. Thomas Aquinas, sits less than an hour from campus and was a long-running Miami target before Notre Dame won the commitment.

Miami has a loaded defensive back group with five-star cornerback Donte Wright Jr., Top247 cornerback Ai'King Hall, four-star safety Jaylyn Jones and cornerback Sherrod Gourdine committed.

Miami is also pushing for WR Julius Jones Jr.

Miami has been involved with several Raiders in the 2027 cycle, including Gamble and four-star wide receiver Julius Jones Jr.

But it seems like the push from the Irish has just been too strong with that group down in South Florida. Gamble has done some recruiting that has landed with his teammates — as he should — making it more difficult for Mario Cristobal and company to get work done.

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