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UGA football roster: John Fitzpatrick the forgotten man among tight ends

By Kyle Funderburk

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 7: Demetris Robertson #16 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates his touchdown with John FitzPatrick #86 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: Demetris Robertson #16 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates his touchdown with John FitzPatrick #86 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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UGA football has another deep group of tight ends this season. In the middle of that group is redshirt sophomore John Fitzpatrick.

Okay, let’s try this again. UGA football has been on the brink of earning the “tight end U” label for a while, but a lack of production from the position in recent years has squandered that. Isaac Nauta was never the star he was predicted to be, Charlie Woerner was rarely a factor in the passing game, and Luke Ford transferred back home to Illinois when his grandfather became ill. Three ultra-talented tight ends in-and-out of Athens without any All-SEC honors.

It’s time to hit the reset button on the position. While Georgia doesn’t have any huge, established names at tight end entering the 2020 season, the Bulldogs aren’t devoid of talent. One of those talented tight ends you may have forgotten about is redshirt sophomore John Fitzpatrick.

The Atlanta native is a former four-star prospect ranked No. 316 by the 247Sports Composite. At 6-6 and 241 lbs., Fitzpatrick is an imposing figure at tight end, and entering his third year on campus, he’s entering a leadership role that he’ll share with Florida State graduate transfer Tre’ McKitty.

Fitzpatrick is a great athlete for the tight end position and he utilizes skills learned from other sports. He played soccer and basketball in high school at Marist. When you’re a 6-6, 230-plus-pounder in those sports, you learn to use your size to your advantage. Fitzpatrick is a solid target for quick, short-to-intermediate passes because he uses his body to shield defenders from the ball, and he can turn downfield quickly.

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Best of all for Fitzpatrick, he’s a good blocker, which means he gains favor with head coach Kirby Smart. Georgia may be radically changing the offense, but as long as Smart is head coach, there will always be a prominent role for receivers and tight ends who are good run blockers. Despite the wealth of talent Georgia has at the tight end position this year, Fitzpatrick shouldn’t have any issues getting onto the field.

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