Big week for 5-star DB Fitzpatrick
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Five-star defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick had a big week last week. The star cornerback from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep added offers from Alabama, Michigan and Florida.
"I was really excited when I heard about the Alabama offer," the 6-foot, 183-pound Fitzpatrick said. "It's a prestigious school and I have a lot of family down there. They were all happy that I got this offer.
"Coach (Nick) Saban doesn't mess around when it comes to his cornerbacks and defensive backs. When I got to work with him for those four days over the summer, I learned so much. Receiving that coaching for three or four years is how they put out some of the best defensive backs in the country."
Fitzpatrick is also an excellent offensive player and shared his thoughts on the Tide's new offensive coordinator.
"Coach (Lane) Kiffin is a good coach, but he didn't have as much success this season as he thought he would at USC," Fitzpatrick said. "He's a great coach and I think that will be a good fit."
Fitzpatrick had been looking for an offer from the Wolverines for some time.
"Michigan is another one of those very prestigious offers I was waiting for," he said. "I wanted to get up there for a visit, but they hadn't offered so I didn't see the point yet. Now I want to get up there for a visit. I've been talking to some of the coaches up there."
Michigan's top rated 2014 recruit, Jabrill Peppers, is close with Fitzpatrick and could play a key role in recruiting Fitzpatrick.
"Jabrill will probably recruit me a little bit," said Fitzpatrick. "We're both two of the top players in New Jersey, and knowing that he is there means a lot because there is something there that attracted him and it could most likely attract me. They always produce great athletes and great players. That is a mold that Jabrill fits into and that's something I would fit in very well with."
Fitzpatrick is one of the nation's most coveted recruits in the 2015 class and a number of schools are recruiting him heavily.
"Notre Dame is recruiting me really hard right now," he said. "Penn State was recruiting me hard until all that stuff happened with the coaching staff. South Carolina is also recruiting me pretty hard."
The news of James Franklin's hiring at Penn State has sparked varying reactions from across the college football and recruiting worlds.
"Coach Franklin is a great coach and he did great things down at Vanderbilt, bringing them to back-to-back nine win seasons in the SEC, which is pretty crazy for them," Fitzpatrick said. "He is a really smart coach and I'm sure he'll attract a lot of big time players."
Fitzpatrick hasn't taken many visits yet but is starting to plan a few for next month.
"I'm doing a couple of visits at the end of February because we have a week off of school," he said. "I think we are going to go to Florida State and Georgia.
"Florida State also produces great defensive backs every year," said Fitzpatrick. "I talk to coach Sal Sunseri a lot. I've started to form a relationship with him a little bit. I've also talked to the defensive backs coach a little bit more.
"Injuries really killed Georgia this year with pretty much all their receivers out at one point and the running back out too. Without those guys you can't really do anything, especially against the guys the play against. Their defensive backs are also very good. They have a lot of them in the NFL."
Fitzpatrick is currently the 10th rated prospect in the Rivals100.
Adam Friedman is the Mid-Atlantic Region football recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.
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