The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/510942
A lthough he's been committed to the University of Louisville since October, Farmington (Mich.) High wide receiver Desmond Fitzpatrick is very much on the market. The 6‑1, 188‑pounder picked up a U‑M of‑ fer in January shortly after Jim Harbaugh took the Wolverines' top job, and has been high on the Maize and Blue ever since. He's looking at other schools as well. "I'm looking at Pitt, Illinois, Michigan," he said. "I'm also open, but I consider myself committed to Louisville. Once I get a chance, I'll proba‑ bly go down to some of those schools." The No. 8 pros‑ pect in Michigan and the No. 55 wide receiver nationally has been a regular visitor to Ann Arbor, with a half‑dozen trips down the road to see the Wolverines in spring practice sessions alone. That has led many to believe U‑M will have a commit‑ ment from Fitzpatrick eventually, and the bigger question is not "if" but "when." He does have an idea of how he'd like to wrap up the end stages of his recruitment. "It could wait until signing day, but I doubt it," he said. "I want to make my final deci‑ sion before my senior year. It will probably be some time mid‑ summer." The Wolverines' options at the wide re c e i v e r p o s i t i o n may have as much to do with whether Fitzpatrick ends up in the class as his own desire. If U‑M has a spot for him, he's more likely to end up a Wolverine than wearing any other uniform. H o w e v e r , t h e Michigan coaching staff has a number of top wide receivers also in the mix, and if he waits too long to make a decision — or decides to skip the Michigan summer camp — he could end up lower on the priority list. WOLVERINES OFFER 2019 STANDOUT If eighth grade seems a bit early for a program like Michigan to of‑ fer a football prospect, you're prob‑ ably right. Loganville (Ga.) Grayson 2019 athlete Owen Pappoe is not just any eighth‑grader, though. When MICHIGAN RECRUITING U-M Could Land In-State Receiver Farmington (Mich.) High's Desmond Fitzpatrick — the No. 8 player in Michigan and the No. 55 wide receiver in the country according to Rivals.com — has been commit- ted to Louisville since October, but could flip his pledge to Michigan. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL