Top-ranked JUCO S Bishop Fitzgerald commits to NC State
NC State landed a key member of its 2023 class Wednesday when Bishop Fitzgerald announced he will be joining the program. The On3 four-star safety picked the Wolfpack over SMU, Arizona State, Maryland and others.
Fitzgerald is now the highest-rated member of NC State’s senior recruiting class. After playing high school football as a quarterback in Virginia, he enrolled at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and made a position switch.
After sharpening his skills as a defensive back for two years in junior college, he is ready to make the leap to Division-I football at safety. Fitzgerald told TheWolfpacker.com that he could play free safety, strong safety or nickel in Raleigh, but the staff told him his skill set will likely lend itself to playing SS.
Subscribe to TheWolfpacker.com today with our limited-time $29.99 deal for premium access until 8/31/23
He will have two years of eligibility remaining when he arrives in Raleigh with a redshirt year available as well.
Fitzgerald just wrapped up his sophomore season at Coffeyville that included 6 interceptions, 50 total tackles, 8 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. After the season, Fitzgerald received first-team junior college All-American honors.
Fitzgerald made the announcement on Instagram Wednesday afternoon, a little over a week after officially visiting NC State. Arizona State, SMU, Utah State and Cincinnati also hosted the safety on officials earlier in the recruiting cycle. He made the trip from his Northern Virginia in Dale City, Va., to Raleigh with his family, and everyone left very impressed.
“I think my family and I kind of mutually agreed that it was the best visit we’ve been on,” Fitzgerald told The Wolfpacker Sunday. “Just the culture, the people here, the city. Raleigh was a good city. You can see why it’s one of the fastest growing cities. The coaches were just real welcoming people, just making me feel at home, so we enjoyed that a lot.”
Top 10
- 1New
Urban Meyer
Coach alarmed by UT fan turnout at OSU
- 2
Bowl insurance
Historic policies for Hunter, Shedeur
- 3Hot
CFP home games
Steve Spurrier calls for change
- 4
Nick Saban endorsed
Lane Kiffin suggests as commish
- 5
Diego Pavia
Vandy QB ruling forces change
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
NC State linebacker Devon Betty hosted Fitzgerald on his visit, the safety clicked with the current members of the program. After picking up an offer from the Wolfpack Dec. 15, Fitzgerald quickly built a genuine bond with the coaching staff, especially safeties coach Joe DeForest.
“I think that’s one of the things I admire about Coach DeForest is him always being 100 and real transparent,” Fitzgerald said. “I feel like I could talk to him about a lot of things because he values his players as people too.”
Fitzgerald is the No. 18, and likely final, commit of the Wolfpack’s 2023 recruiting class and the third safety, joining On3 Consensus four-star Daemon Fagan and On3 Consensus three-star Zack Myers. Fitzgerald is the third junior college prospect to pick the Wolfpack.
NC State is also bringing in six additions from the transfer portal, brining the total list of newcomers to 24.
