Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 151 2 Position Changes Galore The class proved to be a versatile group, and no player moved around more than Prosise, who played safety as a freshman before moving to wide receiver as a sopho- more. A lack of depth forced the staff to switch Prosise to running back as a senior. He had never played the position, but responded with a brilliant season, helping spark a run game that set a mod- ern school record with 5.63 yards per rush attempt. Russell was recruited as a running back, but a lack of depth at cornerback forced a move him to defense. A sea- son-ending injury in August to presumed starter Lo Wood forced Russell into the lineup, and he shined. Stanley started 13 games at right tackle in 2013 before moving to left tackle for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Mark Harrell spent time at tackle, guard and center during his career. Day and Romeo Okwara moved to new positions when Notre Dame made a change at defensive coordinator prior to the 2014 season. Day began his career as a 3-4 defensive end, but moved to defensive tackle when the Irish shifted to a 4-3. Okwara began his career as an outside linebacker but transitioned to end when the change was made. Even some of the transfers moved around. Wide receiv- ers Justin Ferguson (transferred to Western Michigan) and Davonte Neal (Arizona) started in the secondary after leaving Notre Dame. 3 Decommits, Transfers Derail Class The 2012 class will always have a bit of the "what could have been" mantra surrounding it. That began prior to the class signing, when the Irish lost what would have been the top player in the class in cornerback Ronald Darby who flipped his commitment to Florida State less than a month before National Signing Day. A week later, offensive tackle Taylor Decker flipped to Ohio State. Four-star wide receiver Deontay Greenberry stunned Notre Dame by signing with Houston on National Sign- ing Day. Darby started on Florida State's 2013 national title team and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Like Stanley, Decker earned consensus All-American honors in 2015 and was a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2016 draft, chosen just 10 picks after Stanley. Greenberry caught 201 passes for 2,612 yards and 20 touchdowns for the Cougars. Five-star quarterback Gunner Kiel transferred out after his freshman season, and cornerback Tee Shepard didn't make it through his first se- mester in South Bend. In all, Notre Dame lost three top commitments within a month of National Signing Day and had five players transfer out of the program. Five-Year Record Overall: 43-21 (.672) ACC: 13-7 Bowl Games: 2-2 Versus USC: 3-2 Versus Stanford: 2-3 Versus Michigan: 2-1 Top-20 Finishes: 3, 2012, 2013 and 2015 Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley started 39 games during his Notre Dame career, which ended with consensus All-America honors. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA