2020 WR Knows The Process & Notre Dame

Christian Fitzpatrick has a better idea than most what the recruiting process is likely to entail.

The 2020 wide receiver from Michigan just watched his older brother, 2017 wideout Dez Fitzpatrick, go through the process, which ended up with him landing at Louisville.

Not only that, the younger Fitzpatrick also has the benefit of his father, who has helped both sons on the field and off.

“I just try to focus on working hard and learning as much as I can from my Dad and my brother,” the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder from West Bloomfield, Mich., said.

They’ve taught him to keep his focus on what’s most important.

“Recruiting is very fun experience, but being a really elite player seems like more fun,” Fitzpatrick said.

“My dad is a really good wide receiver coach who taught Dez everything he knows and is teaching me the same stuff.”

Fitzpatrick is able to learn from both.

“My dad focuses on teaching me all the technical skills takes to be an elite receiver and my brother teaches me how to work hard and stay focused even we people doubt you or when the workouts are really hard,” he said. “I feel really lucky to have my Dad as my coach and a brother like Dez. They both work hard to teach me how to play the position.”

That work has already earned Fitzpatrick scholarship offers from Illinois, Louisville, Syracuse and Central Michigan.

“It’s cool,” Fitzpatrick said of the early offers. “But I realize that they mean nothing if I’m not good enough for schools to want me after my junior year.”

It’s still early in the process, obviously, but Fitzpatrick got a peek at Notre Dame when his brother was being recruited by the Irish and was intrigued.

“I know Notre Dame has a great history and has very cool facilities,” he said. “I visited a game with my brother.

“I would love to go back. Not only for football, but they are also a great academic school and I would love to learn more about them.”

Fitzpatrick said he’d like to get a better understanding of the academics in South Bend, the coaching staff, the offense and the program as a whole.

He’s already taken a handful of visits and has some others in mind.

“I've visited Syracuse, Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Louisville so far,” he said.

“I want to visit Illinois, Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and a few others after the season.”

Fitzpatrick’s first priority will be running and lifting.

He also has his priorities in order in terms of evaluating colleges.

“Academics will always be first, but something that I would focus on is not choosing just a big-name school, but a school that really wants me there.”