Every year a few recruits give Irish fans heartburn. This year already proved to be no different.
I offer a challenge to Irish fans. Answer the following questions as if you were Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly with the primary goal of acquiring the most amount of physical talent possible to compete for championships, along with securing a few potential first-year starters for 2012, which will likely be a rebuilding year due to serious concerns at cornerback and possibly wide receiver as well.
1) Would you allow a mid-level committed recruit to take additional visits if other viable options at the same position could be recruited with a highly probable end result of signing a similar recruit?
2) Same question as above, but the recruit in question is a legitimate five-star recruit and very few options to replace that recruit if he bolts?
These types of scenarios might seem to be easy to answer, but the endless number of long-term outcomes can make it more difficult.
3) What precedent does coach Kelly set if he continues to 'play the game' of recruiting roulette? Think about that question before making a quick answer because each situation proves different, at least somewhat. Or does it? Situational perhaps?
4) Would you, acting as coach Kelly, make more exceptions to allow committed recruits to visit other schools if that recruit was a tight end, a position Notre Dame traditionally does a fantastic job of recruiting?
Tee Shepard, Deontay Greenberry, and Ronald Darby play critical positions of need for the game of football, and Notre lacks starters let alone reserves for those positions headed into the 2012 season.
5) Does the aforementioned information influence your decision making with how to handle elite recruits at positions of need?
Recruiting holds similarities with the business world; many high risks and rewards. I believe that if any of the three committed prospects were just mid-level talents, coach Kelly would probably look in another direction for replacements. That's the prime variable with recruiting: talent.
Further, Notre Dame desperately needs an infusion of talent and true play makers at cornerback and wide receiver. I would be shocked if Shepard did not start at some point in the 2012 season, ditto Greenberry. I expect Darby to compete for at least the starting nickel back position as well. Thus, coach Kelly must play the game.
