Justin Ferguson decided to transfer from Notre Dame before spring practice started in April, but hadn’t decided on where he would continue his athletic and academic career until this past weekend. Over three months after announcing his intentions to transfer, Ferguson decided Western Michigan was where he wanted to be.
Ferguson decided to transfer from Notre Dame right on the heels of the the news that Davonte Neal would be transferring to be closer to home. At the time, Ferguson did not give a specific reason for the transfer. Some have suggested that the depth chart did play a role, but Ferguson saw action in 11 games for Notre Dame in 2012 – albeit primarily on special teams -and was set to challenge for playing time in 2013.
Unless Ferguson is granted a special waiver like Amir Carlisle got last year for Notre Dame, he will have to sit out this fall and will have three years of eligibility left for Western Michigan.
With the transfers of Neal and Ferguson, Notre Dame moved CJ Prosise to wide receiver to man the slot and the early returns have been very positive. The former safety still has a lot to learn about the nuances of the position, but he looked very promising in spring drills and during the Blue/Gold game in May.
Notre Dame also had a pair of early enrollee freshmen at wide receiver who look capable of contributing at the position this fall in James Onwaulu and Corey Robinson.
With Ferguson’s transfer complete, the trio of wide receivers that Notre Dame either had committed or signed in the class of 2012 are all now gone. Deontay Greenberry spurred the Irish on signing day for Houston, Neal landed at Arizona to be closer to his family and infant son, and Ferguson is now on the Western Michigan roster.
Grennberry by the way had an instant impact for Houston last fall with 47 catches for 569 yards and three touchdowns. Both his catch and yardage total was more than any single wide receiver accumulated for Notre Dame last fall. Neal, meanwhile, has applied for a hardship waiver although the results of his application have not been announced.
