Notre Dame has added another high-profile recruit to its 2026 class with the commitment of Devin Fitzgerald, son of NFL Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald.
The Paradise Valley native joined the Fighting Irish on July 5, 2025, according to his ESPN recruiting page. Fitzgerald committed as a three-star wide receiver from Brophy Prep in Phoenix.
247Sports Composite ranked him the second-best recruit in Arizona and the 28th-ranked wide receiver nationally.
The freshman receiver made his mark early at Brophy College Prep. He holds the school record for receiving yards in a single game with 253 yards during a playoff matchup against Chandler High School.
That same game saw Fitzgerald haul in 14 receptions and four touchdowns, tying another school record.
High School Production
Fitzgerald’s high school numbers show consistent production across four years. He finished with 149 catches for 2,125 yards and 26 touchdowns, according to his Notre Dame athletics page.
His catch total tied the Brophy school record. The yardage and touchdown numbers ranked second in school history.
During his senior campaign, Fitzgerald caught 82 passes for 1,230 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games. That’s a 15.0 yards per catch average.
He’s the oldest of three children. His younger brothers Apollo and Milos also carry the Fitzgerald name.
Notre Dame’s Recruiting Pitch
Fitzgerald had offers from Clemson and UCLA among others. But Notre Dame’s consistent approach won out.
The Fighting Irish had been recruiting him since his freshman year. Their scholarship offer came in May 2025, two months before his commitment.
Wide receivers coach Mike Brown led the recruitment. Brown played in the NFL from 2012 to 2015 and had a previous relationship with the family.
“I’ve developed into a better ballplayer, and they really think I’m going to turn into a great player,” Fitzgerald told ESPN. “I’ve known Coach Brown since I was 5 years old. He’s shown me that I can come in, step up and play early. That’s their plan with me.”
The connection between Brown and the Fitzgerald family spans over a decade. That relationship gave Notre Dame an edge in the recruiting process.
Following Dad’s Path
Larry Fitzgerald attended the University of Pittsburgh for two seasons. He played Big East football before the Panthers moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The elder Fitzgerald went on to an NFL career that landed him in the Hall of Fame. Now his son is looking to make his own mark in college football.
Devin joins Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class as one of the higher-profile additions. The Fighting Irish are betting on his combination of bloodlines and production translating to success at the collegiate level.
