WVU Extends Offer to 2023 3-Star WR Chance Fitzgerald

Chance Fitzgerald kept his initial reaction to a few words when he learned he had received an offer from the West Virginia football program.

“It felt really great,” the wide receiver recruit from Nolensville, Tennessee, said.

As Fitzgerald carried farther into his thoughts, he began to bring back memories of watching highlights of Tavon Austin and Geno Smith when he was younger.

The two aforementioned players, of course, were both former stars for the Mountaineers from 2009 to 2012. Austin and Smith are also NFL veterans and were enshrined in the WVU Athletics Hall of Fame last month.

“Watching those guys play at the collegiate level was fantastic,” Fitzgerald said. “They were two of the truly premier athletes of that period. They really showed what the program was all about.”

Fitzgerald announced via his Twitter account early Thursday afternoon that he was officially invited to join the Mountaineers.

Blessed to receive an Offer from West Virginia @WVUfootball @Tony_TDUB pic.twitter.com/WXp2ObNMhK

— Chance Fitzgerald (@itschancefitz) October 13, 2022

Being that Fitzgerald is a member of the 2023 recruiting class, it is not very common for players to receive an offer this late in the process. Fitzgerald said this did not affect him because of his strong relationship he holds with the West Virginia coaching staff.

Mountaineers wide receivers coach Tony Washington had been previously in contact with Fitzgerald when he served in the same role at Coastal Carolina from 2020-21. Fitzgerald added the West Virginia coaches text him frequently to check in.

“I honestly figured it would come eventually,” Fitzgerald said. “I just did my best to perform well on the field until that time came. I was hoping people would see all of the hard work I had been putting in.”

Along with West Virginia, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound route runner boasts 29 other FBS offers, highlighted by Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan State.

Fitzgerald, who is rated as a three-star prospect on both 247Sports and Rivals, said he plans to visit West Virginia’s campus and attend one of the Mountaineers’ home games, he is just unsure of when that will be.

His current focus, ahead of his own recruiting, is helping Nolensville finish its regular season undefeated and eventually reach the Class 5A state championship game. The Knights are currently 8-0 with two games remaining on their schedule.

Fitzgerald has been a solid performer for Nolensville this season, surpassing 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in seven of the team’s eight games.

Throughout his high school tenure, Fitzgerald has consistently used his speed to be a playmaker for the Knights’ offense. In 2021, he totaled 55 catches for 731 yards and 12 touchdowns, but is on pace to surpass those marks this year.

“It’s all about going to practice every day and working hard,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve been working on several parts of my game, especially my hands and feet, to get me to this point. All of the workouts and doing the extra thing always helps.

“I also watch a lot of film of a lot of different guys, trying to learn some tips. I don’t want to copy them, though. I’m doing my best to try and be myself as a player.”