Notre Dame lands commitment from WR Devin Fitzgerald, son of former NFL star Larry Fitzgerald

New York Times

05-07-2025

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame continued its receiver rebuild with another NFL legacy, continuing a trend that's gained momentum under Marcus Freeman.
On Saturday afternoon, three-star Devin Fitzgerald committed to the Irish, flanked by his father and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, whose 17-year NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals totaled 1,432 catches, 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns. The news came one day after four-star wideout Kaydon Finley committed to Notre Dame over Texas, where his father Jermichael Finley starred before a six-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
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Fitzgerald is the 24th commitment in Notre Dame's class and the fourth receiver, following Finley, Bubba Frazier and Dylan Faison. Frazier committed in April. Faison was the first verbal in the class, committing in March of 2024 to follow his brother Jordan Faison on to both the Notre Dame football and lacrosse rosters. The Irish are expected to land a fifth receiver — making it three in three days — when four-star Brayden Robinson announces his college decision Sunday.
Fitzgerald chose Notre Dame over finalists Clemson, Stanford and UCLA, although the Irish held a commanding lead in this recruitment since his official visit in mid-June. During that weekend, Fitzgerald spent time with Finley and Thomas Davis Jr., whose father Thomas Davis played at Georgia before a 16-year NFL career. The three prospects all posed in Notre Dame gear with their fathers backing them up.
The NFL legacy to Notre Dame pipeline isn't new, but it's been pronounced under Freeman.
Last year's roster included seven sons of former NFL players: defensive end RJ Oben (Roman Oben), defensive back Jordan Clark (Ryan Clark), safety Kennedy Urlacher (Brian Urlacher), defensive end Bryce Young (Bryant Young), offensive lineman Rocco Spindler (Marc Spindler), cornerback Benjamin Morrison (Darryl Morrison) and Howard Cross III (Howard Cross II). From that group, only Young was a Notre Dame legacy.
Notre Dame's freshman class includes receiver Elijah Burress (Plaxico Burress) and Jerome Bettis Jr. (Jerome Bettis). Burress starred at Michigan State before a long NFL career that included an overlap with the Hall of Famer Bettis in Pittsburgh. In addition to Bettis, the Irish also signed a second Notre Dame legacy last year in tight end James Flanigan, whose father Jim played defensive line on the same Lou Holtz teams in South Bend before a 10-year NFL career.
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The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Fitzgerald is a three-star at On3, 247 Sports and ESPN, with Rivals rating him as a low four-star prospect. However, his rating may improve in the coming months following a strong performance at the OT7 tournament.
As a junior at Brophy Prep in Phoenix — that's the same high school that produced Morrison and freshman defensive back Cree Thomas — Fitzgerald posted 52 catches for 720 yards and nine touchdowns. That was enough to attract Notre Dame's interest earlier, although the Irish were deliberate in offering after scouting him this offseason.
As much as Notre Dame needed numbers at receiver after some fallow cycles at the position, receivers coach Mike Brown and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock didn't want to rush the process. Fitzgerald gives the Irish more size at the position than the other three commitments or the potential of adding Robinson. Fitzgerald is the only one of Notre Dame's expected five-man haul who's listed at taller than 6 feet. That's a plus. The fact he's the son of one of the greatest receivers in NFL history is a bonus.
A couple of nice snags from 2026 Notre Dame WR target Devin Fitzgerald at the OT7 finals. Fitzgerald also was 7on7 MVP.
Video: OT7 pic.twitter.com/XrrOVsK6uv
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreeman05_) June 27, 2025
If Notre Dame lands Robinson on Sunday, its next potential commitments could be three-star safety Nick Reddish and four-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden. Reddish is scheduled to choose among Notre Dame, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin on July 11. Golden, who is expected to announce his decision on July 26, is likely focused on Notre Dame and Alabama, with Oklahoma and Virginia Tech also under consideration.
If the Irish sweep those three targets, it would give Notre Dame 27 verbal commitments, its largest class since Charlie Weis' first full recruiting haul 20 years ago.
(Top photo of Devin Fitzgerald (1) in Sept. 2024: Patrick Breen / The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)