Notre Dame's Has Been On Plus Side Of Recruits Changing Minds

One of the highlights from last February’s Signing Day that was emphasized by the Notre Dame coaching staff is for the first time in seven seasons under head coach Brian Kelly, the Fighting Irish did not lose a single verbal commit.

That was a first overall since 2006, Charlie Weis’ initial full-season recruiting campaign at Notre Dame.

“We vetted out better than we ever have because we were further out on our recruits in terms of time,” said Kelly last February. “We had more time with them to make sure that they were kids that would fit here at Notre Dame.”

The streak of such success was snapped this year at what remains the single most difficult position for Notre Dame to recruit (or keep) — a pass rushing terror off the edge.

First it was four-star Georgia native and Florida IMG Academy top 100 prospect Robert Beal, who had committed to the 2017 class the previous November. But about two weeks after the 2016 signing day, Beal backed out and eventually gave a commitment to the in-state Georgia Bulldogs and new head coach Kirby Smart.

This week Beaver Falls, Pa., resident and 6-5, 255-pound Donovan Jeter, more of a strong-side end or even defensive tackle prospect, backed out from a verbal pledge he gave Notre Dame after his official visit to the Michigan State game Sept. 17. Jeter reportedly had dropped the Irish from consideration in the summer, but admitted to Alan Saunders of Pittsburgh Sports Now that his decision last month became more emotional than rational, analogous to marrying the first girl you kiss.

“With me, it changes every week,” Jeter told Saunders. “One time, Pitt was my top school. One time, Michigan was my top school. Obviously, Notre Dame was top school. One time Penn State was my top school. One time Ohio State was my top school.”

Notre Dame’s free fall to a current 2-5 record and the tumult on defense, which included the Sept. 25 firing of coordinator Brian VanGorder, led to some “upon further review” contemplation by Jeter that helped result in his de-commitment.

Shortly after Jeter’s de-commitment, the Irish added California cornerback/athlete Elijah Hicks to keep its current 2017 count at 18 verbal commitments. Three of them are defensive linemen, tackles Darnell Ewell and Kurt Hinish, plus end Jonathon MacCollister.

When it comes to “de-commitments,” Notre Dame has come out ahead during Kelly’s seven-plus recruiting seasons with the Fighting Irish by almost a 2-to-1 ratio.

The word “de-commitment” entered the recruiting lexicon sometime in the 1990s, when a verbal pledge was no longer reserved almost exclusively for the months of December, January and February. It was gradually moved up to the fall, summer, spring, or even a year in advance. About 15 years ago at Notre Dame, that would have been unfathomable for various reasons, including the school often not approving academic transcripts until after the first semester of a prospect’s senior year.

However, a potential consequence from early commitments is plenty of time to reevaluate, and much can happen between the time of a verbal pledge and National Signing Day.

Flip-flopping in recruiting is as much a part of the landscape as the sun rising in the east or engagements being broken off between couples. Here’s the year-by-year breakdown under Kelly with players who flipped to Notre Dame or vice-versa — or at least ones we are aware of:

2016: 7-0

Decommits to Notre Dame (7): quarterback Ian Book (Washington State), defensive ends Khalid Kareem (Alabama) — although he is now more recently being listed as a tackle — Ade Ogundeji (Western Michigan) and Daelin Hayes (USC), safeties D.J. Morgan (Arizona State) and Spencer Perry (Florida) and cornerback Troy Pride Jr. (Virginia Tech).

2015: 6-2

Decommits To Notre Dame (6): quarterback Brandon Wimbush (Penn State), running back Dexter Williams (Miami), tight end Alize Jones (UCLA), linebacker Josh Barajas (Penn State) and cornerbacks Shaun Crawford (Michigan) and Ashton White (Virginia Tech).

Decommits From Notre Dame (2): quarterback Blake Barnett (Alabama) and safety Prentice McKinney (Oklahoma).

2014: 3-3

Decommits To Notre Dame (3): defensive tackle Peter Mokwuah (Rutgers), safety Drue Tranquill (Purdue) and defensive end Jhonny Williams (Missouri), who is now at Toledo.

Decommits From Notre Dame (3): defensive tackle Matt Dickerson (UCLA), running back Elijah Hood (North Carolina) and outside linebacker Richard Yeargin III (Clemson).

2013: 6-3 Notre Dame

Decommits To Notre Dame (6): running back Greg Bryant (Oklahoma), receiver Will Fuller (Penn State), tight end Durham Smythe (Texas), defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes (USC), linebacker Doug Randolph (Stanford), safety Max Redfield (USC).

Decommits From Notre Dame (3): running back Jamel James (Texas State), and linebackers Alex Anzalone (Florida) and Danny Mattingly (Oregon).

Note: Unfortunately, even though Vanderdoes signed a letter of intent with the Irish, he eventually enrolled at UCLA, where he made Freshman All-American. The late Bryant transferred to UAB but was tragically died in gun fire last May in his home state of Florida.

2012: 2-4, Opponents

Decommits To Notre Dame (2): Quarterback Gunner Kiel (LSU) and defensive end Jarron Jones (Penn State).

Decommits From Notre Dame (4): receiver Deontay Greenberry (Houston) offensive tackle Taylor Decker (Ohio State), linebacker/athlete David Perkins (Ohio State and then Illinois State) and cornerback Ronald Darby (Florida State).

Note: Kiel is now at Cincinnati for his fifth season, as a reserve.

2011: 5-4 Notre Dame

Decommits To Notre Dame (5): Defensive linemen Aaron Lynch (Florida State), Stephon Tuitt (Georgia Tech), Chase Hounshell (Florida), offensive lineman Nick Martin (Kentucky) and quarterback Everett Golson (North Carolina).

Decommits From Notre Dame (4): running back Justice Hayes (Michigan), offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood (Florida State), linebacker Clay Burton (Florida) and cornerback Bennett Okotcha (Oklahoma).

After making Freshman All-American at Notre Dame, Lynch transferred to South Florida and turned pro early. Prestwood would transfer to Notre Dame in August 2011, but academics led him to Central Florida, where he also became ineligible. Okotcha transferred to University of Texas at San Antonio.

2010: 8-3, Notre Dame

Decommits To Notre Dame (8): Quarterbacks Luke Massa (Cincinnati) and Derek Roback (Toledo), wide receiver TJ Jones (Stanford), offensive tackle Tate Nichols (Stanford) defensive linemen Louis Nix III (Miami) and Kona Schwenke (BYU), linebacker Danny Spond (Colorado) and safety Chris Badger (safety).

Roback transferred to Ohio U. less than two weeks into August practice in 2010. Badger is at BYU after having served a two-year Mormon mission.

Decommits From Notre Dame (3): running back Giovani Bernard (North Carolina), defensive end/linebacker Chris Martin (Cal, then Florida, Navarro College, City College of San Francisco and Kansas) and defensive end Blake Lueders (Stanford).

The nomadic Martin originally committed to Charlie Weis at Notre Dame in February 2009 when he was only a high school junior, joined him at Kansas later but was kicked out of school for robbery.

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