'08 NJ LB J.B. Fitzgerald (Michigan Signee)

[Sette]

Good call Meeechigan. I'm glad to say that J.B. is a Wolverine.

[TheMile]

Scout $

8/30

Fitzgerald discusses why he chose Michigan.

[ThWard]

Fantastic.

And Meeechigan... perhaps you're too big of a man for it, but I'll say it for you... "You told me so!!!"

[GoRU]

Fitz is supposedly hosting Brandon Smith on his visit.

And then there's this, which I'm only posting now because more details have come out on it since it was first reported last week:

Courier News Online - Schiano flying high in battle to win over recruits

"With the 0-2 start Michigan is having, I didn't take it as a negative,'' Smith said. "I just think Coach Schiano was doing the right thing, showing that he's still supporting J.B. He wouldn't be doing his job if he wasn't still trying. Recruiting is such a high-stakes game at the Division I level, and these coaches are out there not only competing on the field but for the best players in the country, too. He has to go after the best players in the state, and J.B.'s definitely one of those kids.''

Smith's team was in the locker room by the time Schiano took off at halftime. Still, the coach didn't need to see the helicopter ascending to feel the reverberation Schiano created.

"I think the comment I heard the most from the parents was 'Wow, I can't believe Coach Schiano is taking the time to show up here,' '' he said. "That definitely was the buzz.''

[OSwho?]

Fitz ain't going anywhere IMO. He sees how bad our defense is and the fact of the matter is he can come in and play or even start from day one.

We may lose out on Brandon Smith, but to be honest I don't really want Brandon Smith unless he'll agree to play linebacker. I'm sick of slow safeties- Jamar Adams included, and if Smith will agree to move down to LB'er I say great. If not, I'd rather have him go somewhere else. If he'll play OLB here at 225-230 he'll be a LB'er with above average speed for the position rather than a SS with below average speed at 225-230 pounds.

[TheMile]

Scout $

9/26

Fitzgerald talks about his official visit to Michigan for the Penn State game. He says he had a great time and will try to get Spencer Adams and Nic Perry to join him there.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

12/5

Says he will wait to see who the new coach is before deciding what he will do. Talks about his contact with the current UM staff.

Rivals.com Football Recruiting - From the Road: Performing in the playoffs

The nightcap on Friday featured Michigan-bound linebacker J.B. Fitzgerald and his West Windsor-Plainsboro South Pirates taking on the Howell Rebels in the Central Group IV Championship Game. Although the Pirates were never really in the game during their 48-13 loss, Fitzgerald was impressive. Playing against Howell's spread offense, we didn't really have a chance to see Fitzgerald in action against the run too often, but he did showcase his athleticism throughout the game. With Howell running numerous four wide receiver sets, Fitzgerald continuously covered running backs and tight ends 20-30 yards down the field with ease. Also playing tight end on offense, he scored on a 30-yard reception where he both eluded and ran over a few tacklers.

[HotMic]

Scout $

12/19

From the Michigan site. Fitzgerald says he thought about visiting Rutgers with Michigan's coaching situation up in the air, and says he still may take some visits depending on what happens with coach Szabo. J.B. says some of the recruits have talked to him about trying to get Pryor to come to Michigan as well.

[GoRU]

Here's a very good profile of Fitzgerald.

[HotMic]

Scout $

1/16

From the Michigan site. Fitzgerald says that his visit with coach Rodriguez went great, and that he really smoothed things over. He says that he is solid with Michigan, but wants to make 100% sure before signing day.

[GoRU]

NJ.com: Everything Jersey

Rodriguez, who left Morgan town amid turmoil, reportedly visited Fitzgerald and his family at their home on Jan. 15 and is ex pected back today or tomorrow.

Rodriguez has already lured former Mountaineers recruit Taylor Hill of Youngstown, Ohio to Ann Arbor to play linebacker. Holy Spirit (Absecon) senior Marcus Witherspoon, who visited Michigan at the same time at Fitzgerald, reaffirmed his verbal commitment to Michigan yesterday.

Fitzgerald, an Associated Press all-state first-team selection, will take an unofficial visit back to Michigan this weekend.

[GoRU]

Trentonian.com

If Michigan fans click this link, the sports backpage headline just might give them a heart attack...

Now, though, Carr has since retired, former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has been hired to replace him (after Schiano removed his name from consideration for the job). According to WW-P South coach Todd Smith, the Scarlet Knights are a strong contender to land Fitzgerald in the final days before national signing day.

Smith said that, after making an official visit to Piscataway last weekend, Fitzgerald appears torn between the schools.

He will make an unofficial visit to Michigan this weekend, paying his own way to meet again with Rodriguez and his staff, and decide between the two finalists by national signing day on Wednesday.

“I know he enjoyed his visit to Rutgers and I know that he’s going to Michigan unofficially to spend some time with the staff,” Smith said. “I guess we’ll know on Signing Day where he’s going to go.”

Smith said Fitzgerald has been increasingly impressed with Schiano and his assistants, who have continued to recruit him despite his commitment to Michigan.

But according to Smith, Rodriguez and his staff have tried vigorously to keep him, even recently flying to New Jersey to meet with Fitzgerald and his family in their home.

“Coach Rod has been down here and all those people, so there’s no doubt about it they still want J.B.,” Smith said.

Fitzgerald, who is 6-foot 3 and weighs 225 pounds, is rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com. In addition to the Gatorade honor, he was the Trentonian Colonial Valley Conference player of the year.

If Fitzgerald chooses Rutgers, it would signal a major victory for Schiano, who has made convincing the top players in New Jersey to stay home a major priority.

“I think he understands what Coach Schiano is doing,” Smith said. “He enjoys the staff there, the facilities are second to none at Rutgers and I know he was very impressed with that.”

The Scarlet Knights will lose starting strong side linebacker and team captain Brandon Renkart to graduation, but have Kevin Malast back at weak side and Ryan D’Imperio and Damaso Munoz in the middle.

If he chooses Rutgers, Fitzgerald, who did not return a phone message seeking comment last night, could contend for a backup role next year and could conceivably be in the mix for the starting spot vacated by Renkart.

With several older players ahead of him in the pecking order, that would appear unlikely. But Fitzgerald, who made 125 tackles and had two interceptions last year for the Pirates, is a player Smith said has a major upside.

“After he adjusts to the college game and gets in the weight room for a while,” Smith said, “he can be a dominant player. I think whatever team gets him, he can turn into an animal.”

[HotMic]

Scout $

2/5

From the Michigan site. After looking around, Fitzgerald says he is again solid with Michigan.

[three7]

Originally Posted by HotMic

Scout $

2/5

From the Michigan site. After looking around, Fitzgerald says he is again solid with Michigan.

LOI in to UM.


Solid.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

2/13

Recaps the process including his late visits and talks about how nothing compared to UM.