DE Andrew Fitzgerald (Sep 24)(Nov 12 COMMIT)

Andrew Fitzgerald ..... Marcus (Flower Mound, TX)
-horn ..... DE ..... 6-5/245 ..... TEXAS​

The grandson of The Fonz* earned his district's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014 and has recorded a 4.90/40.

Per Scout:
Fitzgerald is a strong and powerful defensive end prospect, who plays with a blue-collar type of style. A good combo of skills, he is perfectly suited to play strongside defensive end. With a big frame he is able to be physical at the point of attack, holding his ground allowing him to track ball carriers and make tackles. He also has a very quick get off for a prospect with his size, collapsing the pocket and putting pressure on quarterbacks.

Strengths: disengaging skills, explosion, strength. Area to improve: change of direction.

Per BON:
Now holding over 20 offers, Fitzgerald is something of a high-value three-star prospect because there are some solid schools on his offer list.

Still a rangy athlete at 245 pounds, Fitzgerald has the frame to eventually grow into the size of former Texas defensive end Cedric Reed or even continue maturing into a defensive tackle, so he's projectable at several different techniques. He's known as a strong technician for his size. Additionally, he can play with good leverage and looks to have a solid motor.

So far during his senior season, Fitzgerald has 14 quarterback hurries and four sacks through four games.

Jr Season


Sr Season


*Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to substantiate the claim that Fitzgerald is indeed Fonzie's grandson. You decide:

 

Highlights from Higdon's recruiting chat:

Fitzgerald is legitimately above-the-board as of today. He could pick up the phone and commit to Texas immediately if that's what he wanted. The offer is not related to Madubuike's decision. Madubuike will play on the inside in college, Fitzgerald will likely stay on the outside as a 7-tech.
[Posted by a poster on another site]

 

Watched Marcus play against Allen last night. Fitzgerald didn't have enough help though the Marauders gave it a game effort against a squad with waves of spectacular athletes. Allen has three elusive, strong-armed quarterbacks who are really special by high school standards. Not to mention a 770 person marching band that could really bring the noise when needed.

 

Per a summer Scout story:
Fitzgerald tested well at the mid-March Nike The Opening Dallas regional camp, where he ran a laser-timed 4.90-second 40 and a very impressive 4.27-second shuttle, displaying his athleticism and lateral range. He plays mad and through the whistle and possesses natural pass-rushing instincts that make him a terror off the edge for Marcus, where he won his district's Defensive Player of the Year award as a junior.

 

Fitzgerald committed today. Inside Texas article.

 

Cool. I'll see him tomorrow night in Flower Mound Marcus' playoff game.

 

Congratulations and welcome.

 

The Fonz!

 

Aaaaaaaaaaaay! Welcome aboard.

 

Per Horns247:
So why did Fitzgerald decide the time was right to pull the trigger?

“It was the best overall option for me and my future,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m a Texas kid. It is a dream to live in Texas and go play football for the University of Texas. It’s just the best fit for me overall.”

Fitzgerald picked Texas over offers from California, Oregon, Kansas State, North Carolina, Texas Tech and others. He made official visits to both Kansas State and Oregon.

Fitzgerald will make his official visit to Texas after the season. He was last on campus for an unofficial visit in early September to watch the Longhorns take on Oklahoma State.

“I had a great time,” he said. “Even though they didn’t win, it was a great game to go to. There was a lot of energy. I think later on in the next couple of seasons, Coach (Charlie) Strong is going to build something big.”

 

Watch it Potsie.

 

Per HS:
Film Analysis:
Fitzgerald is a big kid at 6’5 245 lbs., with room to pack on more. His frame suggests versatility including the possibility to play the three technique in an even front or the 5 technique in an odd front. He plays with a good low base that keeps him anchored against the run where he is strong setting the edge at the point of attack. He has a good motor and pursues plays down the line with the ability to turn and run after plays that get downfield. Fitzgerald’s agility and lateral quickness are apparent right away as he stays square to the line while controlling zone blocks to hold his gap. He plays with great discipline and rarely gets caught out of position. Against the pass he lacks that quick first step people look for, but he can be a threat from the strong side with power, quickness, and a crafty set of pass rushing moves. Fitzgerald uses his hands really well to keep linemen off balance and dictate the matchup. He does play a little high at times and will need to work at playing with leverage consistently but those are coachable things.

Final Verdict:
Charlie Strong seemingly recruits two types of players. One type are the high ceiling athletes while the other are solid athletes who are very smart. The two traits aren’t mutually exclusive and Fitzgerald shows us that. His body development will really tell the story here, but he has the ability to be a multi-year all conference player with an NFL future. It’s a great pickup even if the strong end position isn’t as sexy as some fans would like.

 

Sit on it!

 

Welcome to Texas, Andrew!

 

Great pick up! Welcome to the 40 Andrew!

 

Welcome aboard!!

 

Per 247:
Texas commit Andrew Fitzgerald also enters the four-star range after review of his senior film. Fitzgerald has been extremely productive this fall as a long, physical edge player but he's also been verified as 6-5, 247-pounds in the summer with 4.9 speed in the 40, offering all kinds of athletic upside as well. The new Longhorn commit is ranked as a four-star outside of the Top247.

 

Despite a 48-21 loss to Mansfield (10-2) by Flower Mound Marcus (10-2), Andrew Fitzgerald played like his usual self. He forced three incompletions as well as other tough throws due to his length, displayed stellar pass-rushing ability, and overall proved why he is considered a recruit who can contribute early on at Texas.

[Full Horns247 article]

 

Fitzgerald would be a consensus 4-star recruit if not for ESPN, which has him rated at a 71 (just barely a 3-star).

 

The Fonz!

 

Love the techniques this guy has!!

 

Greg Biggins says: "Probably the best overall player for the second day in a row was Andrew Fitzgerald. The Texas commit was unblockable. They were holding him, choke hold, grabbing, and doing everything they could in 1-on-1s and the team drills. He's too big, too strong, and he has a real good work ethic. The guy is going to be a stud. He can go inside, outside. He doesn't know how good he's going to be yet."