Last weekend, Scott Satterfield and the football program hosted a bevy of visitors looking to fill out their 2019 recruiting class. While finishing out the ’19 class, it’s not too early for the UofL football staff to begin working on the 2020 class. I caught up with one of those visitors (and the family’s patriarch).
A name Louisville football fans has grown to know and expect big things out of is redshirt junior wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick. After an impressive redshirt freshman campaign, Dez was primed for a breakout 2018 season.
Between the lack of seeing the field and the Louisville football staffs failure to utilize his big play talents were just one of many problems to stunt the football program’s success this past season. On hand for most of the Cardinals home games this past season were Dez’s father, Greg and younger brother, 2020 3-star WR prospect Christian Fitzpatrick.
Christian, no stranger to the Cardinal football program was a target of the previous staff. But with the staff turnover, Christian is having to develop new relationships amongst the new Cardinals football staff.
One person who has kept in contact with Christian throughout the whole process is lone holdover from the previous staff, Recruiting Coordinator & Director of On-Campus Recruiting/High School Relations Pete Nochta.
“Pete (Nochta) has stayed in contact with me the whole time. Me and wide receivers coach, Coach Brewer have since began having a little contact. I’m coming down this weekend for a big recruiting weekend and I’m really looking forward to meeting Coach Brewer. He’s a big energy guy and I can’t wait to get down there and get to know him some more” says Christian.”
Patriarch of the Fitzpatrick family, Dez and Christian’s father, Greg Fitzpatrick is the founder of WR Nation-a network for athletes dedicated to playing WR to hone and improve their skills. Greg felt that “Since Coach Gunter Brewer had been there, Brewer seemed to like what he saw on tape when watching Christian.”
Both Christian and Greg acknowledged Dez as saying Coach Brewer is a “big energy guy. He’s intense and has a lot of passion!” Greg would go onto to add that Brewer is “really well respected as a coach on the coaching circuit and will get everything out of Dez helping him reach his potential”
Eager to visit Dez and see and hear the new changes and vibes around the facility, the Fitzpatrick family is really looking forward to their visit this weekend. Both mentioning Dez as saying “the feel around the team is energetic and the team is ready for a new start. Things seem happier and guys seem to be working hard, enjoying football again.”
Feeling comfortable changing the direction of the conversation for a brief moment, I lightened up the convo. I asked Christian about some really tough questions (sarcasm). I wanted to know first of all, who’s the better trash-talker on the football field between him and his brother Dez?
“Me. I’m the better talker on the field. After I make a play, I’m going to let you know about it.”
Who’s the faster of you two?
“I’m going to have to say Dez. He’s a burner!”
OK, if yall are going head-to-head in redzone drills from the 20 yard line; each of you are on offense and defense 3 times a piece, who’s gonna win best of 3 both ways?
“If he (Dez) is on defense, I’m winning every time! I’m winning all 3! Dez actually thinks he’s some kind of shut down corner (laughter). He thinks he’s like a real college shut down corner or something (more laughter). He can’t cover me.
If I’m on defense, I just feel like there’s something in me. I feel like I could get one (trying to convince himself). I think I could get lucky and guess one of his routes and stop him once, so I think I’d win the best of 3.”
Having enjoyed a good laugh with Christian, I steered the conversation back on topic about his upcoming visit. Yet I felt compelled to ask about Coach Brewer’s most recent Twitter profile pic. It would be an injustice not to ask him what he thought about our man’s, sporting the Flatbill Cardinals hat? With a chuckle, he stated “Yeah he’s definitely sporting it good!”
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/97npWYFsEy
— Gunter Brewer (@GunterBrewer) January 22, 2019
Speaking to Christian, you get the feeling he’s the exact type of student athlete that Satterfield built the success of his Appalachian St. program around. He currently has straight A’s and is working hard to finish his junior year, continuing that trend (which he’s currently on track to do so).
Outside the classroom, he continues to work with his father Greg on improving his craft and physically trying to get bigger and stronger for his senior season.
Standing 6’4, 200 lbs (and likely still growing), Christian is “looking for an offense that suits big wide receivers like me. I’m a real physical receiver, but also smart with it. I can get over top of a defense, but I’m good at recognizing soft spots to beat the defense. I’m a smart wide receiver. I have great hands and if you throw it up to me, I’m coming down with it every time. I can’t remember the last time I had a drop.”
https://twitter.com/coachfitz007/status/1091089857169027075?s=19
But does Christian see himself as a fit in Satterfield’s offense? “Previously (At App St.), he ran 2 WR sets, heavy run based offense that are going to open up play action. That allows someone like me, a big WR to take advantage of defenses with safety high in 1-on-1 opportunities.”
Certainly it would appear Christian sees himself as a fit in new head coach, Scott Satterfield’s offense. Still, does what happened at the University of Louisville the past 2 seasons with the previous staff and what older brother Dez and his teammates had to endure have any bearing on his decision, or hinder Louisville’s chances?
“Absolutely not. Last couple of years have zero effect. It’s a new staff. Just have to build new relationships and that’s why I’m looking forward to meeting with Coach Brewer.” His father Greg acknowledged the fact that “before the new staff was put in place, UofL wasn’t really an option for Christian.”
I broached Christian if there was any sort of timetable for committing? “No. Haven’t really talked about committing just yet, but it could happen anytime. It helps having Dez as a brother having gone through it already. He gives really good advice.
It’s really about a feel; a school who really likes me and makes me feel wanted. I’ll know when it’s right.”
Greg said his son Christian is a kid who “doesn’t have to have the hype. He just wants to feel wanted. That relationship and bond between him and who’s recruiting him and who he’ll potentially play for is really key.
“Went on a lot of recruiting trips with Dez. When a program is on the uptick, you can feel the buzz! You can just tell. Christian actually canceled a trip to another big time school this weekend to come to Louisville. He’s really excited about the opportunity,” Greg told me.
While I don’t think a commitment is forthcoming following this weekend’s visit, I do hope the visit goes well for Christian and UofL both. Fairly, or unfairly, the current UofL staff’s ability to land Christian in the 2020 class (if they see him as a take) will be a measuring stick for this staff.
If the Cards were to miss on Christian, one would have to think many fans of CARDNATION would pass judgement and come to the conclusion that this staff couldn’t get the job done to land Christian and/or “the buzz” wasn’t there. Only time will tell.
Stay tuned to Big Red Louie and look for our post-visit recap with a full breakdown of Christian’s visit this weekend. – GO CARDS!