Set to decide, Fitzpatrick impressed by Cards

After hearing in depth from the University of Louisville football staff how the Cardinals hope to use him in their offense, four-star Michigan wide receiver Desmond Fitzpatrick will let U of L – as well as Nebraska and the rest of the recruiting world – know Monday afternoon where he’ll play his college ball.

Fitzpatrick’s father, Greg, said Sunday afternoon after the family left Louisville from an official visit that Desmond still plans to announce his college decision at 2 p.m. Monday, and he is now down to U of L and Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have been seen for the past couple months as the Cards’ top competition while trying to get Fitzpatrick to recommit.

Fitzpatrick, who initially pledged to U of L in October 2014, has visited Louisville multiple times, but his father said the official visit was notable because coach Bobby Petrino and offensive coordinator Garrick McGee went over their plans in detail for the offense moving forward and how Fitzpatrick could fit in.

"They know Dez is a versatile player who can play inside or outside," Greg Fitzpatrick said. "They really focused on teaching Dez a little bit of the offense and getting a feel for Dez's football IQ, which I think they were pretty impressed with."

U of L relied heavily on the read-option running of freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2015, but Greg Fitzpatrick believes the Cards are committed to running Petrino's more traditional offense and keeping their receivers heavily involved as Jackson develops as a passer.

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"I'm more than confident that Louisville is going to be able to run Coach Petrino's pro-style pass-heavy offense with the talent they have there," Greg Fitzpatrick said.

Greg Fitzpatrick called Jackson "a Heisman Trophy candidate waiting to happen."

U of L's coaches told Fitzpatrick that he could be used in a variety of ways as an inside or outside receiver who gets the ball "on anything from bubble screens, (to) curls, post routes (or after going) in motion," Greg Fitzpatrick said. He said U of L has a single position – presumably the one now filled by James Quick – that moves around in that way.

"It made Dez raise his eyebrow to understand a little more how he was going to be used in the offense at Louisville," Greg Fitzpatrick said.

Nebraska coach Mike Riley also plans to run a pro-style, balanced offense, which "kind of fits Dez's style," his dad said. The Cornhuskers have discussed teaching Fitzpatrick three different wide receiver positions so that they can move him around, whereas the Cardinals have "one position that moves around quite a bit."

Since his decommitment in November, Louisville’s effort to get him back in the fold has been one of the biggest factors of the Cards’ recruiting cycle. Did Louisville help its chances with the official visit?

"Louisville's never really went away," Greg Fitzpatrick said. "Dez's decommitment was for a number of reasons and nothing negative toward Louisville, their staff or their program. Dez committed to Louisville pretty early. He was committed for a year, and a couple things happened along the way that made him say, 'You know what? Let me make 1,000 percent sure and open my recruitment back up.' But Louisville has never gone away."

U of L's communication with the family actually has picked up some since Desmond's decommitment as the Cards have tried to "as they say, get him back home," his dad said.

Greg Fitzpatrick said Desmond would make a final decision after the family meets Sunday night. His father said he thinks U of L and Nebraska are about even.

Waterford Mott High School will have an assembly at 2 p.m. for Fitzpatrick’s announcement, and it’s expected that his decision will first be publicized on a video by BleacherReport.com. Greg Fitzpatrick said his son has recorded four endings, including for both U of L and Nebraska, for Bleacher Report to use based on the final schools he’s been considering. The family will tell the website which ending to use after the final decision is made Sunday night.

Although Desmond Fitzpatrick has grown up in Big Ten territory and considered multiple Big Ten schools, including Nebraska, during the process, his father said that conference affiliation is not a factor.

“Actually playing against Alabama is a bigger factor,” Greg Fitzpatrick said of Louisville’s 2018 season-opening opponent.

Indiana and Arizona were also in Fitzpatrick’s final four but now have evidently been cut from consideration.