Jim O’Connor – USA TODAY Sports
Another one of the top things needed for a defense to be successful are cornerbacks that can stay with and challenge bigger receivers. Minkah Fitzpatrick is already considered among the top defensive backs in the nation despite going into just his junior year of high school. His play was so good last season for St. Peter’s Prep that he was invited to The Opening to compete against some of the top defensive backs and wide receivers in the nation, most of them being a year older than Fitzpatrick.
St. Peter’s Prep is in Jersey City, New Jersey, and he plays for a Marauders football team that went 8-2, losing in the second round of the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 Playoffs. They did win one game by forfeit, but in the other nine games they actually played, the Marauders gave up just 62 points, which is only 6.89 points per game. St. Peter’s Prep was among the top teams in the state, and have many players competing for scholarships at all levels. Fitzpatrick probably the most talented of them. He already has a reputation, as not many teams threw his way, intercepting just one pass.
Fitzpatrick stands at 6-feet and weighs around 180-pounds. The hope is that he gets even taller. Either way, he has the frame to add some weight in the right strength-training program in college to become a true lock-down corner.
Fitzpatrick hasn’t narrowed his field down quite yet, but the teams getting the most love are all on the East Coast. This includes Rutgers, UConn, Maryland, Miami, Florida State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State and South Carolina. He has also been approached by National Champion Alabama and runner-up Notre Dame, although neither school as offered him a scholarship. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Tim Carroll is a Prep Sports Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Timbo_Slice00 and add him to your circle on Google.
