Deontay Greenberry doesn’t see what the big deal is with fellow Notre Dame commitment Ronald Darby taking visits to other schools.
“I’m not worried about him at all,” Greenberry said of Darby following the first practice of the Champions Gridiron Kings at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex here. “We’re for sure going to Notre Dame.”
Greenberry, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound receiver from Fresno, Calif., joined his cousin Tee Shepard and Darby on the Irish commitment list in May. He plans on checking out other schools as well, but not in search of something better.
“Me and Tee, we’re taking all of our visits too,” said Greenberry. “That’s just us going out there and trying to explore something new. It doesn’t mean we’re going somewhere else. We’re still going to Notre Dame.”
Greenberry and Shepard will be in South Bend on an official visit when the Irish play USC in October. The duo also plans to make stops at Alabama, Miami, Arizona and Oregon this fall, but the cousins maintain they’ll end up at Notre Dame and they’re trying to bring others with them.
“We’re always doing that,” Greenberry said of recruiting other prospects at showcase events. “We’re always making small comments like, ‘You’ve got to come join the Bang Bang Notre Dame Gang.’”
California wide receiver Bryce Treggs is on Greenberry's West squad for the Gridiron Kings. Treggs committed to California at The Opening earlier this month, but will also be at Notre Dame on an official for the USC game.
“I’m still trying to get Bryce up out there,” Greenberry said. “Tee and Ronald, they’ve got their guys that they're trying to get.”
California safety Shaq Thompson is another recruit Greenberry is trying to convince to join the Irish. Thompson, who will also be at the Notre Dame-USC game, was supposed to participate in this weekend’s event, but a leg injury prevented him from making the trip.
Thompson’s absence has expanded the workload for Greenberry.
“I’m playing linebacker, free safety, corner and receiver,” laughed Greenberry. “I’ve probably got the most jobs out here.
“That just tells me they’re trying to win because I can play everything.”
That’s a lot of responsibility for a player who was a last-minute addition to the Gridiron Kings’ West roster after a strong performance at The Opening.
“I wasn’t even invited after first, but after I went to Oregon and got Offensive MVP, I guess they had to find a way to get me in,” said Greenberry.
Greenberry’s performance at The Opening and on the 7-on-7 circuit this summer has made him one of the hottest prospects in the country and he’s enjoyed the attention that has come along with it.
“I guess that’s what it is, just me blowing up in 7-on-7, just showing what I can do and getting jump balls,” he said. “I was born with that confidence. I’m just coming out here and competing with the best of the best.”
Greenberry is especially excited to be playing with and against the best in Shepard, Darby and fellow Notre Dame verbal C.J. Prosise, a safety from Virginia.
“It’s good because Ronald and C.J., they didn’t go to The Opening,” said Greenberry. “I’m just getting to know them a little bit better here and I got to bond with them a little bit more.”
