Crist attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. As a senior in 2007 he threw for 2,178 yards with 16 touchdowns and one interception in 10 games, also adding 81 rushing attempts for 454 yards and four TDs. Crist was rated the third best quarterback and 25th best overall recruit in 2008 according to Rivals.com, and was one of seven quarterbacks named to the Parade All-American team.

Sources:

After not seeing any game action as a freshman in 2008, he completed 10 of 20 passes for 130 yards with a touchdown and interception as backup to Jimmy Clausen during his sophomore season in 2009. During a game against Washington State he tore his ACL and it was announced that he would be out four to six months. Despite the injury he became Notre Dame's starting quarterback in 2010.

Crist had his best football season in his sophomore year at Notre Dame. Crist completed 59.2 percent of his passes in 2010, passing for 2,033 yards, 15 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, before suffering a ruptured left patella tendon against Tulsa, ending his season.

On August 23, 2011, Brian Kelly named him the starting quarterback for the 2011 season, after saying the quarterback contest between Crist and Rees was "very close." At halftime of the 2011 season opener against the University of South Florida, Brian Kelly benched the ineffective Crist in favor of Tommy Rees; the Fighting Irish went on to lose the game, and afterwards Kelly named Rees the new starting quarterback and named Crist the backup.

...
Wikipedia