Irish Sports Daily

The 2007 recruiting class was one of near-misses for Notre Dame. What started off as a promising recruiting class with the early commitments of players like Jimmy Clausen, Duval Kamara and Mike Ragone, ended with a number of disappointments and a few de-commitments.

Irish fans were certainly shell-shocked from the fallout when the dust settled, but did the Irish really miss on these players? Most should be large contributors on their teams at this point or onto the NFL like Clausen. How did these heartbreaks turn out in the end? Let’s take a look.

Notre Dame fans should’ve known something was up from the very beginning. 6-foot-7, 315-pound Josh Oglesby had been to Notre Dame camp and on campus numerous times. It appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Oglesby would sign with ND and become the next four-year starter at left tackle for the Irish---and then it didn’t happen. He chose in-state school, Wisconsin, and the first major setback of 2007 was already in the books.

How did Oglesby pan out? Oglesby redshirted his freshman season and then started three games for the Badgers in 2008. In 2009 he started 10 games for the Badgers at right tackle. While he’s made into the starting rotation, he hasn’t quite lived up to his five-star status, and his career at the coveted left tackle was short-lived.

Another early setback was inside linebacker, Chris Galippo. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound backer visited Notre Dame on junior day hoping for an offer, and inexplicably the Irish didn’t offer the five-star linebacker on the spot. Galippo left campus very disappointed and two days later USC offered and Galippo accepted. The Irish would later offer the Top 20 prospect, after he committed to the Trojans, but it was too little too late for the Irish.

Galippo played in a backup role his first two seasons at USC, and started all 13 games last season, registering 70 tackles and 1.5 sacks. While Galippo is a solid player, he also hasn’t quite lived up to his five-star status.

Another inside backer broke the hearts of Irish fans late in the game in Chris Donald. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker chose Tennessee late in the process, spurning the Irish, who seemed to lead for most of the recruiting season. Donald played in two games for the Volunteers in his two seasons at Tennessee and later transferred out of the program. He certainly didn’t live up to his five-star ranking.

Another late disappointment was Ben Martin. The 6-foot-5 230-pound defensive end was supposed to be Notre Dame’s answer for quarterback sacks for the next four years, but like Donald, Martin spurned the Irish late after Notre Dame had led for his signature most of the way.

Martin, also a five-star prospect, has had a quiet career thus far at Tennessee. He did start the last 11 games for the Volunteers in 2009, but registered just 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season. He has 4.5 sacks throughout his career after playing three seasons for Tennessee. Martin does have one year left, but thus far hasn’t quite lived up to his high ranking.

Another early disappointment was running back and Clausen teammate, Marc Tyler. Tyler was a big running back with excellent speed coming out of high school and another five-star prospect. He visited Notre Dame a couple of times but eventually chose the Trojans over the Irish and found a mountain of tailbacks he hasn’t quite been able to climb in the land of Troy. Tyler has just 41 carries in his career at USC for a total of 270 rushing yards.

Yet another late disappointment was Chicago defensive end Martez Wilson. Wilson had the Irish on top for a large portion of his recruitment but slowly drifted apart from Notre Dame. As recruiting season came closer to the end Wilson had some strong, renewed interest in Notre Dame and eventually visited late. The visit went very well and many expected Wilson to sign with the Irish…….that didn’t happen.

Wilson chose Illinois late and also has had some back luck along the way. After a promising sophomore season where he registered 73 tackles and three sacks, the former five-star player suffered a season-ending neck injury ending his junior season. Wilson does have two years left to put it all together.

Another huge disappointment was the loss of five-star receiver, Arrelious Benn. The Irish appeared to be leading large for Benn early in the process but Benn also chose the Illini over the Irish later in the season.

Benn showed much promise early in his career, but finished his final season at Illinois with just 38 receptions for 490 yards and two touchdowns. That didn’t stop the NFL from calling, however as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Benn in the second round of this year’s NFL draft. Benn certainly has a wealth of talent, but that talent only amounted to 11 touchdowns for his whole three-year career at Illinois.

Four-star prospect, Lorenzo Edwards, also spurned the Irish late for Florida. Edwards had the Irish out front for most of his recruitment as well but decided late on the Gators.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety prospect hasn’t quite lived up to his lofty ranking, either. Edwards has 43 total tackles in his three-year career at Florida, with a number coming on special teams.

Marcus Gilchrist was another hot name for the Irish at cornerback early in the process until he ultimately chose Clemson after visiting Notre Dame. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound North Carolina native was a four-star prospect who had impressive offers from teams like Florida, Michigan, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.

Gilchrist is entering his final season at Clemson and had a very strong 2009 season racking up 96 tackles as a corner for the Tigers.

The Irish also lost three big-name recruits throughout the process who had committed to them previously.

Offensive lineman Chris Little signed with Georgia on a last minute change of heart on signing day. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound massive offensive tackle had committed to Notre Dame previously, but decided to stay closer to home at the last minute. A check of the Georgia roster shows no Chris Little listed.

Greg Little also spurned the Irish late with a signing day switcheroo. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound wide receiver stunned the Irish coaching staff with his decision to switch to in-state school, North Carolina on signing day.

Little has been real productive for North Carolina starting all 13 games last season, catching 62 balls for 724 yards and five touchdowns. He should be a big part of the Carolina offense providing the NCAA doesn’t suspend him as he’s been part of the ongoing investigation lately with the Tar Heels.

Finally, Justin Trattou also pulled the old switcheroo on the Irish staff, dumping the Irish for Florida late in the game. Trattou was a very early commitment for the Irish for 2007 but changed his mind late in the game when Notre Dame appeared to be heading to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator, Corwin Brown.

Trattou has played a lot of football for Florida, but has been pretty unspectacular while doing so. He started four games in 2009 and recorded just 17 tackles for the Gators.

His best season, 2008, he started 13 games for the Gators but only registered 27 tackles on the year. In his three-year career at Florida he’s started 18 games, has registered 64 tackles and seven total sacks.

It’s kind of fun going down memory lane looking back at all of this. I’m sure many Irish fans can remember the frustration of seeing many of these once promising prospects ultimately dump the Irish for other teams, but as we’ve shown here, sometimes those you covet most end up falling the hardest.

How many of the once promising 2011 prospects will end up living up to the hype? How many will end up like the many on this list? Only time will tell.