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Georgia Football: Don’t sleep on tight end John Fitzpatrick

By Eric Taylor

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 7: John FitzPatrick #86 of the Georgia Bulldogs tries to elude Tay Carothers #44 of Murray State after catching a pass during a game between Murray State Racers and University of Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images).
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 7: John FitzPatrick #86 of the Georgia Bulldogs tries to elude Tay Carothers #44 of Murray State after catching a pass during a game between Murray State Racers and University of Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images). /
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Georgia football brought in the best tight end in the 2020 recruiting cycle and added Tre’ McKitty, a three-star transfer, but do not forget about this four-star sophomore.

Georgia football tight end John Fitzpatrick is ready to turn some heads. He was stuck behind senior Charlie Woerner and grad transfer Eli Wolf last year. This is why he had such limited production. That should not be the case this season as he is one of the two best tight ends on the roster. There is no doubt that he should be one of the two starters.

I know what you are thinking, “how good could someone be who was targeted just twice last season and had one catch?” Well, that one catch was for 22 yards. John Fitzpatrick has made big plays since high school. In his last season at Marist High School, he had a catch of 10 or more yards in eight of the nine games he played in. His longest catch in high school went for 75 yards and he averaged 15.5 yards per catch. His athleticism also led coaches to play him at both tight end and defensive end.

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Fitzpatrick was a four-star recruit when he signed with Georgia, according to 247Sports Composite. The 6-6, 241-lb. prospect was given a 0.8975 grade by 247Sports, higher than that given to Tre’ McKitty who got a 0.8816, but below the grade given to Darnell Washington, 0.9894.

Look for Todd Monken to use Fitzpatrick to attack the seams of the defense, especially deep down field. His size and athleticism will make him a match up nightmare for both linebackers and safeties. Any cornerback that has the unlucky assignment to guard Fitzpatrick might as well give up at the snap of the ball.

Fitzpatrick should have a breakout out year in Monken’s new offense, especially since Monken is not scared to use his tight ends in the passing game as Georgia has been known to shy away from in the past. This will not only help Fitzpatrick show off his gifts, but also help Georgia bring in more talented guys like him and Washington. Just make sure you pay attention when No. 86 is on the field this year. He should put on quite a show.

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