Pat Fitzgerald fires off pointed message to football recruits in 2022 class
Each coach has a different approach to recruiting. Some hand out offers to players by the dozens while others are more calculated with those offers. Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald is a little more mindful when he’s making a pitch to a recruit.
Recently, Rivals.com shared a list of the school’s that have offered the most prospects in the 2022 recruiting class. Already, seven programs have sent out over 300 offers — Arizona State, Kansas, Penn State, Nebraska, Tennessee, Arkansas and West Virginia.
Northwestern, on the other hand, has only offered 48 athletes. It’s the second-lowest total in Power 5 football.
Fitzgerald had a message for recruits in the 2022 class after seeing the numbers. It’s pretty clear that he’s sending a not-so-subtle shot at some of the programs that hand out offers like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
“Recruits: If you can’t commit on the spot, it’s not an offer,” Fitzgerald tweeted out. “Be safe out there. It’s your future!!”
Recruits: If you can’t commit on the spot, it’s not an offer. Be safe out there, it’s your future!! #GoCats https://t.co/FPTKDtAFI4
— Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) February 12, 2021
Fitzgerald’s approach to recruiting has worked pretty well at Northwestern and it’s helped win him a pair of B1G West titles in the past three seasons. The Wildcats have also won 10 games three times under his leadership and are consistently appearing in bowl games.
His approach seems to be just fine.
Last season, Northwestern ended the 2020 campaign with a 7-2 record, winning a division title and defeating Auburn in the Citrus Bowl. It was the Wildcats’ second trip to the B1G Championship Game since 2018.