HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA — With his Aug. 17 commitment date approaching, 4-star safety Bryce Fitzgerald of Miami (Fla.) Columbus continues to speak highly of Florida. But Saturday, he said two programs have started to separate from the pack and the Gators aren’t one of them.
“FSU and LSU,” Fitzgerald said. “It is just how they’ve been keeping in touch and how they see me in their program,” he said.
What happened with Florida, which seemed to be sitting in a good spot after Fitzgerald officially visited Gainesville in June? According to Fitzgerald, the Gators staff has continued to recruit him well. But he said he has concerns about its stability.
“They are still in the mix. Waiting to see what they do this season,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s about what I’ve been hearing and the winning and losing. I don’t know who is going to be there. I just have to wait and see how it plays out. …They have to win a certain amount of games. I’ve really been hearing that from most everybody now.”
He added of the Gators, “Honestly, it’s not even what I have to hear. It’s what I want to see — what they do this year with the new (secondary coach, Will Harris ).”
At least at the moment, that wouldn’t seem to bode well for Florida’s chances of landing Fitzgerald on Aug. 17. But he made it clear Saturday that day will not be the end of his recruitment. In fact, Fitzgerald plans to attend the Florida-Miami game on Aug. 31 at The Swamp and will continue to watch Florida, FSU, LSU and Miami closely this season no matter who he commits to later this month.
“My options will still be open,” Fitzgerald said. “Really just, who brings energy, who wants it, who wins.”
Meanwhile, the Florida coaching staff is getting help with this recruitment from 4-star Gators receiver commit Vernell Brown III .
“It’s really cool having a player reach out to you that’s still in high school, telling you to come team up with them,” Fitzgerald said. “He really just told me he can’t do it by himself and he needs some stars with him. That’s one of my guys. For him to say that is big.”
According to Fitzgerald, he has not yet made a decision about which school he will pick. FSU is recruiting him hardest at the moment, he said.
“Really just (Coach Patrick) Surtain trusting in me, seeing my abilities. I talk to him almost every day,” Fitzgerald said. “Just keeping in touch with him and keeping a relationship. … They are calling everyone, my grandma, uncles, cousins. They keep a relationship with everybody. Seeing that it is pretty cool. … They are calling everyone, my grandma, uncles, cousins. They keep a relationship with everybody. Seeing that it is pretty cool.”
LSU apparently has ramped things up of late in this recruitment and it seems to be resonating with Fitzgerald.
“Really they’ve been there, just not as high,” Fitzgerald said. “But me talking to their coaches and what they see me playing and how they see using me, I like it.”
Meanwhile, Miami also remains in the mix. He visited them last week.
“They are definitely still in the running,” Fitzgerald said. “Visiting them, it is like home,” he said. “Going to see them, it is like going to see a family. It is always a pleasure going and watching them.”
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