Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Houston, We Have A Problem F FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY BGI STAFF of athletes who left Notre Dame at the altar on National Signing Day: • In 1999, North Carolina quar- resno, Calif., wide receiver Deontay Greenberry joined an infamous list terback C.J. Leak, who had given a verbal pledge months earlier to Irish head coach Bob Davie, stunned the staff when he faxed his letter of in- tent to Wake Forest instead. Later, he would transfer to Tennessee. • In 2002, California tailback Lorenzo Booker appeared to be signed, sealed and delivered to Notre Dame — but in a nationally televised announcement on signing day, he opted in the last instant for Florida State. First-year Irish head coach Ty- rone Willingham described it as "a kick in the gut." • In 2007, North Carolina wide re- ceiver Greg Little switched his ver- bal commitment from Notre Dame to the in-state Tar Heels on the day he was supposed to sign, while offen- sive lineman Chris Little (no relation) also reneged and opted for the in-state Georgia Bulldogs. • Now in 2012, Greenberry — a five-star prospect who is rated as the No. 2 receiver in the country by Pa- rade, behind only its Player of the Year Dorial Green-Beckham (Missouri) — did his own about-face in the 11th hour. He was expected to fax his letter of intent to South Bend shortly after 7 a.m. hit on the West Coast. Instead, Greenberry opted to sign with the University of Houston after visiting that campus the previous weekend. According to Greenberry's Wash- ington Union High School coach Jeff Freitas, Houston assistant coach Jamie Christian made an instant connection with the 6-3, 185-pound receiver. "I knew yesterday that things Five-star wide receiver Deontay Greenberry jilted Notre Dame in the 11th hour, 59th minute and signed with the Houston Cougars instead. 48 MARCH 2012 PHOTO BY JAMIE OAKES/WAHOOS247 weren't looking good for Notre Dame," Freitas told BlueandGold.com Feb. 1. "He's as confident as I've seen him about a decision. This is truly where he feels he wants to go. We've had some good, long discussions over the last day or two. When he made his visit to Houston, he just felt really, re- ally good about the place." Greenberry committed to the Irish in late May, joining his cousin and BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED