SOUTH BEND, Ind. (July 5, 2025) — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish landed a high-profile commitment on Saturday night with deep NFL roots, as Class of 2026 wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, son of Hall of Fame-bound receiver Larry Fitzgerald, announced his pledge to the Irish.
The three-star wideout from Brophy Prep in Phoenix, Arizona, becomes the 24th commitment in Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class, which currently ranks No. 4 nationally in ESPN’s team rankings. Fitzgerald is rated the No. 71 wide receiver in the class by ESPN and selected Notre Dame over UCLA after an impressive junior campaign that saw him catch 52 passes for 720 yards and nine touchdowns.
Despite early interest dating back to his freshman year, Notre Dame didn’t officially offer Fitzgerald until May. The late offer proved strategic as the Irish surged into contention following a wave of spring interest from Power 4 programs. The steady hand behind Fitzgerald’s recruitment was wide receivers coach Mike Brown, a former NFL wideout (2012-2015) who has known the young prospect for most of his life.
“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 five years old. He’s shown me that I can come in, step up and play early. That’s their plan with me.”
Fitzgerald’s commitment marks a continuation of Notre Dame’s success in drawing second-generation stars with elite pedigrees. He joins a growing Irish class featuring four-star linebacker Derek Davis Jr., son of former Carolina Panthers All-Pro Thomas Davis, and Kaydon Finley, a four-star wide receiver and son of former Green Bay Packers tight end and Super Bowl champion Jermichael Finley.
Devin Fitzgerald’s family legacy looms large. His father, Larry Fitzgerald, is widely regarded as one of the greatest receivers in football history. After a dominant college career at Pitt that included a Biletnikoff Award and a runner-up finish in the 2003 Heisman Trophy race, Larry was selected third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He went on to play 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, amassing 1,432 receptions and 17,492 yards—both second all-time behind Jerry Rice. A model of consistency and professionalism, Larry Fitzgerald was named to 11 Pro Bowls and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2008.
“Having my dad there to help me throughout the recruiting process has been great,” Devin said. “He knows what’s important. You want to go somewhere you feel like you belong and where you fit in.”
Devin now becomes the fourth wide receiver in Notre Dame’s 2026 class, joining Finley, ESPN 300 recruit Bubba Frazier (No. 266), and three-star Dylan Faison. The group could grow even deeper by the end of the weekend as Brayden Robinson (No. 293) is expected to announce his commitment decision on Sunday, with Notre Dame in his final three alongside Arizona and Miami.
For Notre Dame, Fitzgerald’s commitment is another building block in a class filled with athleticism, legacy, and potential. For Devin, it’s a step toward carving out his own identity in a family synonymous with football greatness.
The Irish faithful now await to see if the son of a legend can build a legacy of his own in South Bend—one route, one reception, and one touchdown at a time.
