Tar Heels land former Terrapins recruit

By: By Bill Cole | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: August 15, 2009

Sean Fitzpatrick will play football in the ACC but not at the school he chose first.

Fitzpatrick, a 6-6, 220-pound tight end from Mendon High in Pittsford, N.Y., committed to North Carolina on Thursday night. He originally had committed to Maryland but changed his mind. He is UNC's second commitment in two days.

Coach Keith Molinich of Mendon said that Fitzpatrick's familiarity with Allen Mogridge, in his first season as a UNC assistant, helped in the decision. Mogridge is a former University at Buffalo assistant who previously recruited players at Mendon, including Fitzpatrick.

"They connected almost two years ago," Molinich said. "Buffalo offered him (a scholarship) back in October, so he's had this relationship for almost a little over a year. Clearly there's that relationship connection.

"Then a number of weeks ago, he went down there for a visit, and he met Butch Davis and the rest of the coaching staff. That really made the difference."

Fitzpatrick, UNC's ninth commitment for the 2010 recruiting class, can sign the binding national letter of intent in February, at the start of the NCAA's football signing period.

Fitzpatrick will be a starter for the third straight season but will play quarterback as a senior, in part to fill a team need but also because of his athletic ability, Molinich said.

"He's phenomenal at throwing the ball," Molinich said. "We made the decision back in December, so he's been practicing at quarterback since then. When he was a freshman, he played quarterback but he didn't like it that much."

Fitzpatrick caught 8 to 10 passes last season, Molinich said, for a team that rarely passed. He stepped in at tight end as a sophomore after the projected starter broke a hand and was limited to defense.

He caught five passes in his debut, including two for touchdowns, Molinich said. He has 4.6-second speed over 40 yards and also plays basketball at Mendon.

"He'll find a way to get to the ball and make a catch," Molinich said.

Fitzpatrick was planning to graduate in December and enroll at Maryland for the second semester. Molinich said that he and Fitzpatrick have not talked to UNC's coaches about enrolling early but expect to do so.

"He's all set to graduate early if he needs to," Molinich said. "He's a good, hard-working kid."

■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.