Notre Dame targeted Deontay Greenberry to replace Michael Floyd. The Irish are still looking for that replacement after the four-star receiver from Fresno, Calif., flipped to Houston on National Signing Day.

The loss represented a crushing blow to Notre Dame's recruiting class as the Irish lost their top-rated receiver, leaving Brian Kelly with just two wide outs in a class where the position was a major priority.

Greenberry called Ray Shepard, father of early enrollee Tee Shepard, on Wednesday morning to break the news of the flip. Greenberry and Shepard are cousins and it was assumed the pair would play together in college throughout the process. Greenberry called Notre Dame earlier this week to assure the staff he'd sign with the Irish.

"He sent his paperwork in to Houston," Ray Shepard said. "I don't get that one at all. I don't know what happened on that one."

Ray Shepard said Greenberry and Tee Shepard spoke before the Houston flip, with the cornerback telling his cousin to follow his heart in his decision, even if that didn't mean Notre Dame.

Losing Greenberry leaves the Irish with Chris Brown and Justin Ferguson as the program's only two true receivers in a class that needed to load up at the position. At one point during the process the Irish were working to make room for five receivers in this haul.







