Devin Fitzgerald Embracing Competition, Learning Fast in Notre Dame’s Loaded Receiver Room
Devin Fitzgerald has worked toward this opportunity for most of his life.
The Arizona native is the son of Larry Fitzgerald and grew up watching greatness up close. Sundays weren’t just football, they were a masterclass.
Now he’s in South Bend, carving out his own version of that story at Notre Dame.
The first hurdle? The mental grind.
Mike Denbrock’s offense isn’t light reading. Fitzgerald admitted the adjustment is real. The size of the playbook, the tempo, the processing, but he’s leaning into it.
“The playbook's huge,” stated Fitzgerald. “Just learning all the playbook, and then obviously the pace of plays. It's a lot faster, but that's something you can adjust to as you get more reps.”
The good news for the 6-foot-2, 197-pounder is he’s not alone. Notre Dame has four other early enrollee receivers on campus and two transfers from Ohio State, making the same adjustment as Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald didn’t have any hard feelings when Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter made the decision to come to South Bend. Instead, he embraced it as that’s part of college football in 2026.
“In today's day and age, it's expected,” explained Fitzgerald. “Why not go in the portal and grab a five-star if you can? It's allowed. I expected it. Both Mylan and Quincy, great guys, all learning the playbook together. Those are cool people. I'm happy they brought them in.”
The early enrollee isn’t afraid of competition at his position or across from the line of scrimmage, as he’s used to it. Fitzgerald hails from Arizona powerhouse Brophy Prep, which also produced former All-American Benjamin Morrison and former Irish cornerback Cree Thomas.
“Cree was only one year older than me, so I got to go against him every day — a Notre Dame-caliber corner,” Fitzgerald said. “Super sad he left us, but he's going to do great things over there. I got to work with him every day. We pushed each other and he pushed me. Every day, I got to go against the best corner in Arizona, so that was really good to have in practice.”
Fitzgerald has maintained a close relationship with Morrison as well, speaking weekly and even attending his Pro Day last spring.
“We talk over the phone a lot,” stated Fitzgerald. “We talk once a week, I'd say. We have a little Bible study we do. I talk on the phone with him every week, so I have a good relationship with him as well.”
That connection to mentors is mirrored in his bond with fellow early enrollee Kaydon Finley. Both sons of NFL fathers, the two have leaned on each other throughout the recruiting process and now in South Bend.
“We talked a lot even in high school when we both were committed or even when we weren't committed, like taking visits like UCLA and stuff together,” recalled Fitzgerald. “We've been really close and here we do everything together. We study plays, get extra work on the field with (Jaden) Greathouse and the older guys taking us under their wing. It's been great to have a good friend, but I'm tight with the whole class.”
The receiver duo went on a well-documented trip to Minnesota last summer with quarterback Noah Grubbs.
“We have a spot up in Minnesota and I trained with Coach Jerry Sullivan, who used to coach in the League and coached at LSU,” Fitzgerald said. “I usually train with him in the summer. I was up in Minnesota and I just wanted to bring out some of the guys.
“A couple of the other receivers in my class couldn't make it, but Kaydon made it out, Grubbs made it out and then a couple of my friends from back home. We trained with Coach Sullivan for a week. You get the work done in the morning, then go lift, then go hit the lake and have a good time and be kids. That was an amazing week.”
The trip also helped the two receivers establish early chemistry with Grubbs.
“He processes the information really quickly, which you need as a quarterback,” stated Fitzgerald. “He's always willing to come out to the field with me and signal me plays. He's always willing to put that extra work in, always asking me to come catch for me, come do this for me. He's putting the work in, I see that and I think the work will pay off.”
Off the field, Fitzgerald is majoring in finance and minoring in real estate while adjusting to the academic and personal responsibilities of college life.
“It's definitely a big transition,” said Fitzgerald. “Brophy helped me out a lot. It's a great college prep. I feel like the classes, maybe they're a little step up. But if you were in all the AP and honors like I was in high school, I'd say it's just a faster pace. Usually, we go to class a little less, only two times a week instead of the five you get in high school. Just taking in that large chunk of information and then having to go home and study, I'd say that's a huge transition.
“College life, just how much freedom you have, just being able to manage your time. Do I want to go out with my friends? Are they going to go eat at 9, or do I need to go home and study some schoolwork? That's probably the biggest transition. I love all the guys here, so it's a great community.”
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