Miami adds a talented player from a local powerhouse to help rebuild their defensive secondary
In this installment of The Recruiting Notebook, we meet a talented defender who adds much-needed talent to the Miami secondary: Miami (FL) Christopher Columbus 4-star S Bryce Fitzgerald.
Bio
As Miami looked to replace the talent at Safety, especially considering the lack of production on the field this season from that position, they turned their recruiting attention to Miami (FL) Christopher Columbus S Bryce Fitzgerald.
A 6’0.5” 172lb Safety, Fitzgerald is one of the top playmakers in the secondary in South Florida. A three-sport athlete — Fitzgerald also plays basketball and track & field as a jumper — Fitzgerald has contributed on many quality teams over the course of his HS career.
Fitzgerald started his HS career at Miami (FL) Belen Jesuit, and played lightly at receiver as a freshman, catching 1 pass for a 50 yard touchdown late in the year against Coral Reef. Fitzgerald followed that up with 13 catches for 225 yards on offense, 228 yards as a kick and punt returner, 11 tackles, 5 interceptions (including a 96-yard Pick-6), and 2 PBUs as a sophomore for a Belen Jesuit team that made the Florida 3M (analogous to the old 6A) classification.
On the hardwood, Fitzgerald averaged 11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals for a Belen Jesuit squad that won a Florida 5A basketball championship. And, he was a regional qualifier on high jump during T&F season. Quite the impressive year, for sure.
Playing for one of the best 7v7 teams around — Raw Miami — Fitzgerald started to gain recruiting notoriety after his stellar sophomore year. He visited Miami 3x that spring/summer, and was surely a known commodity in the recruiting world.
Fitzgerald transferred to rival Christopher Columbus that offseason, and immediately stepped into the starting lineup for the Explorers. Fitzgerald had 233 yards in the return game, 20 tackles, 10 interceptions with 2 returned for TDs and a handful of catches for the State Champion Explorers. Fitzgerald made big plays in the biggest moments, with 2 of his interceptions coming in the State Championship game victory over Jacksonville (FL) Mandarin. 2 championships in 2 sports at 2 schools in 2 years. Pretty awesome, if you ask me.
Fitzgerald took unofficial visits to Miami and LSU after his championship junior year. Those trips were followed by Official Visits to Florida’s big 3 schools: Miami, Florida, and Florida State. But, in the end, the draw of the hometown Canes won out, and Fitzgerald committed to Miami on MY birthday, August 17th.
Through the regular season of his senior year, Fitzgerald has continued to prove himself to be a top tier talent on a championship caliber team. 12 catches for 136 yards and 3 TDs receiving, 309 return yards, 1 KR-TD, 1 PR-TD, 1 interception return touchdown (98 yards), and 6 tackles on defense. His stats ended on October 3rd, however, so either Columbus is behind on their data entry or….?
Recruiting Ranking
On the 247sports composite, Fitzgerald is a 4-star prospect, the #11 S nationally, #22 in the State of Florida, and #129 player overall in this class.
Fitzgerald committed to Miami over a list of 22 scholarship offers from around the country, with finalists Florida and Florida State headlining the group.
As A Player
At 6’0.5” 172lbs, Fitzgerald has decent height, but he’s still pretty thin and lithely built. He’ll need to get up in the 180lb+ range to be a consistent player at this level. Still, his championship pedigree on the 7v7, HS hoops, and HS football levels shows that Fitzgerald is a winner through and through.
Fitzgerald knows how to play Safety. He is good at getting depth and being the deepest defender on the field, an essential trait that far too many players at the position lack. Fitzgerald is both quick and fast (enough) to cover ground from sideline to sideline. He can play in any coverage scheme while making plays and effectively tackling receivers down the field.
Fitzgerald trusts his eyes and knowledge of defensive schemes to make plays all over the field. He’s got great range going to both his left and right, and has a demonstrated track record as a playmaker when the ball is in the air. Fitzgerald could see time as a rotational slot DB if needed, but his best value is deep in the secondary as the last line of defense.
Though he’s a willing tackler, Fitzgerald will need to bulk up and refine his technique when going up against bigger players at running back and tight end. Speed and angles will be Fitzgerald’s friends in making tackles against bigger players, driving his shoulder through the opponent’s thighs to get them on the ground. He’s not particularly physical as a defender, and that’s something that Fitzgerald will have to add to his game moving forward.
As a returner — either kicks/punts or interceptions — Fitzgerald is a playmaker in the open field. He’s not the fastest player in the world, but he keeps running away from other highly talented players. There is a world where Fitzgerald stays at returner in college, since Miami hasn’t really had success with the other, faster players they’ve put back to return kicks and punts in recent years.
For another look at Fitzgerald, here’s an eval from 247sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins:
Split safety with the range, awareness and athleticism to be a ball thief. Focused heavily on basketball as a youngster before transferring into one of South Florida’s top football powers where he picked off 10 passes as a junior. Route recognition and linear burst stabilize his play as he isn’t the most aggressive run defender at this stage in his development. Still, can read and diagnose at a higher level and frequently puts himself in the right position. Tested in the upper percentile spring before his year and came in with some favorable measurements. However, must improve play strength and technique if he’s going to match up with larger targets in the slot. Overall, should be viewed as a potential impact at the Power Four level that can help shore up the back end of a defense. Should only keep evolving and likely to undergo a physical maturation as he’s on the younger side for his grade.
Strengths
- Speed
- Instincts
- Ball skills
- Special teams — both as returner and gunner
Weaknesses
- Very thin and a bit light
- Tackling technique
- Run support against bigger blockers
Miami Outlook
Note: changed this up from just a freshman-season outlook to a career outlook for each player a couple years ago and we’re continuing that style this year as well.
Fitzgerald isn’t the biggest or fastest player, but he has championship pedigree in multiple sports, and has been one of the best players on those championship teams. He’s a blue chip recruit, well trained by his coaches, very athletic, and will be a value add to this roster down the line.
Like Dylan Day last year, Fitzgerald could work his way onto the field as a freshman on special teams. As I said before, Miami’s returners have left much to be desired, and Fitzgerald has been great in that role at the HS level. Additionally, there’s a path to playing time on the coverage units, so that’s another option for Fitzgerald.
It may take a couple of seasons, but Fitzgerald could develop into a top of the line defender for the Canes. Miami is rebuilding the defensive secondary right now, so there’s nothing but opportunity for Fitzgerald, and others, to work their way into starring roles in the secondary. At a minimum, Fitzgerald should raise the floor for Miami’s secondary in the future.
That’s it for this installment of The Recruiting Notebook.
Go Canes