Coach Not Surprised By Attention In 2026 Notre Dame WR Target Devin Fitzgerald

Jason Jewell understood some college programs feeling they needed to see more from Devin Fitzgerald‍, but the Brophy Prep head coach isn’t surprised that many of those same programs are coming around to the realization that the 2026 Arizona receiver is indeed worthy of a scholarship offer.

Fitzgerald has steadily added scholarship offers since the start of 2025 and has built up a list of well over two dozen programs. 

Notre Dame joined that list a couple weeks ago.

“I talked to (Irish wide receivers coach Mike) Brown and they pulled the trigger,” Jewell told Irish Sports Daily.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has been on Notre Dame’s radar for a while. He goes to the same high school that produced former star cornerback Benjamin Morrison and incoming freshman Cree Thomas. Fitzgerald has already made multiple trips to South Bend as well.

Jewell has talked about the tremendous jump Fitzgerald has made over the past couple years and the Irish clearly saw the same thing. 

“They came out to practice and watched him and liked how he had progressed,” the coach said. “They took it back to the staff and they reevaluated and wanted to jump on him.”

Much of the growth Fitzgerald has made has been literal and he’s currently checking in at 6-2, 205 pounds, but some of his strengths have been there all along. 

“I never want to compare him to his dad, but he's got phenomenal hands,” Jewell said. “He had an awesome spring for us, so it doesn't surprise me that he's getting recruited like he is. Big kid, great size, good hands.”

Fitzgerald’s father is all-time great Larry Fitzgerad. 

“I don't think having good hands is something that's genetically taken down by your family,” Jewell laughed. “Maybe it's just coincidence. I don't know. Or just throwing the ball around. But he does have big hands, he has big feet and he's going to continue to grow.

“The hands have always been there. The rest of stuff, he's grown and looks like a Division-I guy now.”

Jewell said Fitzgerald was excited by the Irish offer.

“He's fired up,” the coach said. “I know it's a school he's been out and seen plenty of times.”

Fitzgerald has since announced five official visits in addition to one he’s already taken to UCLA, Clemson (May 30th), Stanford (June 6th), Notre Dame (June 13th), North Carolina (June 20th) and Arizona State (TBD).

He’s also set an announcement date of July 5th.

“He'll probably have a decision obviously before then, but he'll announce it on the 5th,” Jewell said.

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