Marcus Freeman has successfully recruited several elite high school prospects with NFL pedigrees to South Bend. One of the headliners is wide receiver Devin Fitzgerald, the son of legendary Pitt standout and Arizona Cardinals icon Larry Fitzgerald.
Marcus Freeman Opens Up on Larry Fitzgerald’s Son’s Notre Dame Recruitment
Freeman made an appearance on the “Up & Adams Show” this week, where he was asked about the process of landing Devin for the Fighting Irish. Freeman emphasized that while the bloodlines are impressive, the evaluation started with the tape.
“Well, number one, he was a really good player,” Freeman said. “He was a great high school prospect. It didn’t matter what his last name was. As you evaluate his film, we said, ‘Okay, this guy’s really good.’ Then you get to know his father. Larry came and spoke to the team probably in my first year as a head coach, so I had a previously established relationship with him.”
Freeman recalled a pivotal moment during Devin’s official visit. “Larry started to talk, and I said, ‘Larry, you sell this place better than I do.’ It was an awesome meeting. We have quite a few young players whose fathers played many years in the NFL, and not all at Notre Dame, like Devin and Larry Fitzgerald.”
Devin committed to Notre Dame last July following a breakout junior season at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. He finished his high school career as a four-star recruit, recording 149 career receptions for 2,125 yards and 26 touchdowns. Ranked as the No. 41 wide receiver in the 2026 class by Rivals, he chose the Irish over Clemson and Michigan.
Freeman believes families with NFL experience uniquely appreciate Notre Dame’s long-term value. “They see that football ends. Their fathers played for many years and they see that it’s over. That’s where the value of Notre Dame lasts forever. We say the education is for forever, and they see that living example in their fathers every day.”
Devin now looks to follow the path of his father, who recorded 1,000 receiving yards in both of his collegiate seasons and won the Biletnikoff Award in 2003. Fans will get their first look at the freshman during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold Game on April 25 at Notre Dame Stadium.
Devin is expected to provide a boost to an Irish offense that posted an 88.5 rating in the PFSN College Football Offense Impact Metric last season. He joins a legacy-heavy roster that includes Jerome Bettis Jr. and Bryce Young (son of Bryant Young), as Freeman continues to lean into NFL genetics to build his program.
