Darian Fitzgerald will suit up for the Mustangs in 2023 @Darianfitz_20 @KYEXPOSURE @teeroyhowell @McCrackenStangs @HopkinsCentral @_CoachManning @evans02_mike @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @PrepSpin

Photo: JOHN WRIGHT/Ledger & Times

’25 third-level specimen promises to be right in the mix at McCracken

Fitzgerald is a long, tall, third level guy who easily passes “the eye test.” He played WR/CB at Calloway County a year ago; but two-way deployment, at the 6A level in Kentucky, is rare. We like him on the defensive side of the football and believe colleges will agree.

HB Lyon, Scouting Division, KPGFootball

We pride ourselves on our residing on the very cusp of the football intelligencia from around the commonwealth. We know about the players likely to break out in any given year. We also often have transfer information before anyone else.

McCracken has picked up a real prize. We believe it is safe to report it now, and have made pains to insure that is the case.

Darian Fitzgerald played last year in Murray, Kentucky for the Calloway County Lakers. He was a very good player for that 4A ball club and one we are sure the Laker’s will miss.

We were able to interview Fitzgerald for this particular piece. The first thing we asked him was how he ended up in Paducah.

Paducah is home to us and we ended up back here

Darian Fitzgerald, Class of ’25
D. Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald told KPGFootball, “I was born in Paducah but my mom, brother, and I have moved around a bit. Paducah is home to us and we ended up back here.”

We asked him about his time as a Laker. Fitzgerald told us, “I was playing DE there but I’m moving to WR/DB for the Mustangs.”

Now we have a policy to refrain from writing about transfers until the process is completed and there are no appeals left to be heard. We asked Fitzgerald for his status before undertaking this article. Fitzgerald told KPGFootball, “I am fully transferred and in the McCracken County District’s system.”

As for the move to WR/DB, Fitzgerald has the frame for it. Fitzgerald is 6’2,” and weighs 170-pounds. Last year, playing in 9-games for the Lakers, Fitzgerald was among the club-leaders in tackles, PBU’s, and forced a fumble all while aligned at DE.

I am fully transferred and in the McCracken County District’s system

D. Fitzgerald

Imagine what he will do in the defensive third level. It has Mustang defensive coaches veritably salivating at the prospect.

Collegiately, we like this guy, from a perspective of frame and length, as a third-level defender. Speed will play an integral part of his being deployed there in college. We don’t have a ton to report in that regard. However, finding tall, long, and rangy, third-level guys is always a premium in the world of football.

Fitzgerald appears to fit the bill very well, physically, as long as he also possesses the other “intangibles.” We look for this rising junior to really show out with his “new ball club” and by demonstrating he is the athlete we believe him to be. We expect he will round into a collegiate prospect.

This is Fletcher W. Long, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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About Fletcher Long 1631 Articles
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

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