Former Cavalier Fitzgerald enjoys return visit

college football

CHARLOTTESVILLE Every time he turned around, Jeffrey Fitzgerald got a hug or a handshake - or both - from former teammates and coaches at the University of Virginia.

"He's not playing for us, so we can't call him one of our players, but we still think of him as being one of our guys," Virginia football coach Al Groh said.

Fitzgerald, a Hermitage High School graduate, was back in town last week for U.Va.'s pro timing day. He was there as a spectator, not a participant, and spent most of his time catching up with old friends.

"It feels good, just seeing these guys," Fitzgerald said. "They work so hard, and I'm just trying to give them a little support."

Also roaming the practice fields that day was Ron Prince. Strange how things work out sometimes. Fitzgerald transferred to Kansas State last year to play for Prince, then the school's coach.

Fitzgerald still is a student at K-State, but Prince is back on Groh's staff, coordinating the Cavaliers' special teams.

This is not, obviously, what Fitzgerald expected when he relocated to the Midwest. But he had no way of knowing that K-State would dismiss Prince as coach after the 2008 season.

Prince's successor is the man who preceded him in the job: Bill Snyder, a legend in Manhattan, Kan.

"I was hoping to play for Coach Prince. I knew what kind of coach he was," Fitzgerald said. "But now that I'm out there, Coach Snyder is showing that he's a real good coach. Now, being under him, I really see why he has the reputation he has, so I'm really excited."

In two seasons as a starting defensive end for Virginia, Fitzgerald became one of the ACC's best at his position, recording 12 sacks, intercepting four passes and scoring two touchdowns.

In February 2008, however, he withdrew from U.Va. for academic reasons. He transferred to Kansas State, in part because of his relationship with Prince, a former U.Va. assistant, and sat out the 2008 season as a transfer.

Even if the 6-3 Fitzgerald had been eligible, he wouldn't have been healthy enough to play last season. He was recovering three operations - one on each knee and the other on his right shoulder. He's since been cleared to play and has dropped about 25 pounds to reach his playing weight of 275.

At K-State, his roommate is Olu Hall, another player with ties to U.Va. Fitzgerald and Hall entered Virginia in 2005, which turned out to be Prince's last season as Groh's offensive coordinator.

Hall was an outside linebacker in K-State's 3-4 defense last season. Under Snyder, the Wildcats have switched to a 4-3. Groh has no doubt that Fitzgerald will excel in that scheme too.

"He's a real good football player," Groh said yesterday. "Jeffrey will find his way in any [system]."

Fitzgerald redshirted at U.Va. in 2005, so this will be his final college season. He acknowledged a sense of urgency.

"It's my last shot," he said. "It's all or nothing now."

Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or .