The ones that got away

Brian Kelly wanted to keep the focus on the players that decided to sign letters-of-intent with the Irish. And with a recruiting class compiled of 16 talented players — a lean class no doubt, but far from a program killer — that sentiment is certainly understandable.

But we’ll have four years to judge the talent coming in the door. Let’s take one last look at the one’s that got away:

DEONTAY GREENBERRY: From Notre Dame to Houston

How bad was it? Greenberry’s departure was one of the more shocking turns in recent Irish recruiting history, ranking up their with Lorenzo Booker picking the wrong hat and quarterback C.J. Leak leaving Bob Davie at the altar. Of course, both those losses seemed much worse at the time than during their playing careers with Leak flaming out and Booker never being able to carry the load of an every down back. Still, Greenberry’s shocking decision went viral on the internet, and the hundreds of comments that flooded into the live blog at least reflect the perceived importance of landing Mr. Football in California for the Irish, especially at a position of need.

Impact on the field? Greenberry seemed like the most likely to replace Michael Floyd, and he certainly has the jump ball skills to do so. That said, the fade route and 50/50 passing game that Charlie Weis employed with guys like Floyd and Jeff Samardzija left when Kelly came to town, and any receiver playing in the current offense needs route running precision to get on the field.

In his own words: “I was going to Notre Dame for the wrong reason,” Shepard told the Fresno Bee. “Tee had committed to Notre Dame, and I wanted to be where he was at. Then I started sitting down and really thinking what’s best for me, where I would feel most comfortable. I’ve talked with him, and he’s good with it.”

Final Assessment: This one certainly hurt. Any time you’ve got a recruit wrapped up until the morning of Signing Day, only to lose him to the seventh or eighth most impressive college football program in the state of Texas, well — that’s a head scratcher. Of course, Greenberry could make an instant impact like a Sammy Watkins or disappear like Kyle Prater or Markeith Ambles, just two of many recent five-star wide receivers that didn’t live up to the hype. Not to wish it on Greenberry, but that’s just the nature of recruiting.

RONALD DARBY: From Notre Dame to Florida State

How bad was it? Irish fans were salivating over the idea of Darby and Tee Shepard joining forces and given the Irish two potential lockdown cornerbacks in a recruiting class that needed to upgrade the secondary. Darby was always the number one flight risk in this recruiting class, and his decommitment — while predictable — didn’t hurt any less just because people saw it coming. Still, Irish fans had to almost expect this with Florida State, who I’m sure didn’t pull any punches after last year’s snatch-back of Aaron Lynch.

Impact on the field? Darby had one unquestionable five-star component: Speed. How well he develops as a cornerback and football player, we’ll have to see. Still, there’s no doubting he’d have immediately challenged for playing time at cornerback, where just about everyone is unproven, and his speed could’ve quickly found its way into the return game alongside George Atkinson.

In his own words: “I liked the home feeling at Clemson, I liked the home feeling at Auburn and I liked the home feeling at Florida State, but I had to look past the red carpet treatment and look at the program that could better me as a person,” Darby told the Washington Post. “The difference was the young talent they have going and the need for DBs. They played a safety at cornerback in the Champs Bowl.”

Final Assessment: Fans and recruitniks have pointed to a rift between Darby and the Irish coaching staff over some perceived change in Darby’s recruitment. Area recruiter Charley Molnar’s departure and the coaching staff transition likely hurt Notre Dame, but anything Kerry Cooks did or didn’t do isn’t what sent Darby looking elsewhere. Notre Dame tried multiple times to get in the door with Darby in recruiting’s final weeks, but they were never even let in the house. Casting that aside, you begin to forget that other schools have depth chart problems, too. Florida State obviously sold theirs, not to mention an ACC track program, and enacted a modicum of revenge for the loss of Aaron Lynch.

TAYLOR DECKER: From Notre Dame to Ohio State

How bad was it? The writing was on the wall when Urban Meyer offered Decker a scholarship, then proceeded to bring in Irish coaches Tim Hinton and Ed Warinner, Decker’s area recruiter and position coach respectively. Decker was one of two offensive tackles in a three-man offensive line class, and the six-foot-eight, 320-pound prospect certainly looked the part of a blue-chipper. That it took Meyer only a few weeks to undo a commitment that had been one of Notre Dame’s longest gives you a glimpse into how things are going to go in the Midwest now that Ohio State is being run by one of the sports most ruthless recruiters.

Impact on the field? Probably not all that large actually. The Irish actually have their depth chart at offensive tackle pretty solidified and already have one of the nation’s best 2013 prospects committed in Steve Elmer. That said, bringing in only two offensive linemen in the class means that Notre Dame can’t afford to miss next year.

In his own words: “It’s always been a dream of mine,” Decker told the Dayton Daily News. “I’ve grown up an Ohio State fan; I grew up in Ohio an hour from Columbus, an hour from Ohio State. That’s what I’ve always known as far as college football. Especially when I was younger, that was everything. It’s definitely a great feeling and I’m excited for it.”

Final Assessment: If you believe what some have reported, Kelly didn’t waste too much time crying over Decker’s departure. I’m not sure that’s 100 percent true, but of all the guys the Irish loss, this one certainly should sting the least.