One of the best high school football players in Michigan plans on taking his talent to West Texas for college.
Novi Detroit Catholic Central defensive back Gideon Gash verbally committed to Texas Tech football on Saturday, June 6. Gash chose the Red Raiders over Michigan State, LSU, Oklahoma and Alabama.
Gash, a Division 1 All-State player for the defending Division 1 champions, is rated as the No. 2 player in Michigan and No. 70 player in the nation’s 2027 recruiting class, according to 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
His college decision didn’t come down to name, image and likeness money and benefits, according to his dad, Sam Gash, a former NFL player and ex-Detroit Lions assistant coach. Sam told the Free Press on Monday at a golf outing for Lions alumni at Walnut Creek Country Club that the experience of Red Raiders cornerbacks coach Darcel McBath, a former second-round NFL draft pick, was a big factor.
Gideon has only played cornerback for two years and has elite size for the position at 6 feet 4, 205 pounds. McBath has coached bigger corners and is 6-1 himself.
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Along with being the cornerback tasked with shadowing the opposing team’s top receiver every Friday night for the state’s toughest defense, Gideon was an effective receiver for the Shamrocks offense. In the MHSAA Division 1 state championship win over Detroit Cass Tech last year, he caught three passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
The rising senior is a superb athlete. After winning a football title, Gideon was an All-Catholic forward for the Shamrocks’ basketball team. In the spring, Gideon finished third in the D-1 state meet in long jump, leaping 23 feet and 5 inches, before returning to lacrosse and helping the team in its state championship run.
In football, Gideon played alongside his brother, Samson Gash, for the past three seasons. Samson is a Michigan State signee who is currently making the transition to East Lansing as a freshman receiver.
Another older brother, Caleb Gash, is a redshirt junior safety for the Spartans.
Gideon said in May that his two older brothers at MSU were recruiting him to join, but also made it clear they will always have his back if he didn’t end up as their college teammates.
“They always say, if it’s not the right place for you, walk your own race,” Gideon said on May 9 at the Catholic League track championship. “They are super supportive. Obviously, they want me to come play with them but they are super supportive.”
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett contributed to this report.
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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gideon Gash, No. 2 player in state, commits to Texas Tech over Michigan State
Reporting by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
