Sophomore Defensive End Making His Mark at Virginia
posted 11:34 am Thu September 27, 2007 - Charlottesville, Va.
Not to be outdone, the Cavaliers' other defensive end picked off a pass - deflected by Long - and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown in the following week's victory over Georgia Tech. It was sophomore Jeffrey Fitzgerald's fourth career interception, the most on the team.
Next up for Virginia (3-1) is Pittsburgh (2-2), and Fitzgerald won't be surprised if Long reclaims the edge in their playful competition for ball-hawking bragging rights.
"I'm looking for him to come back and do something else - probably do something this week," Fitzgerald said.That would surprise nobody, because Long has been a menace to opposing offenses. The son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long leads Virginia in sacks (6), tackles for loss (7) and quarterback pressures (11), and is second in tackles (28) and tied for second in pass breakups (4).
"It's hard to imagine many players around the country playing better games than what Chris is playing," Virginia coach Al Groh said.
But Fitzgerald might come close. He has just one fewer tackle than Long, despite playing 36 fewer snaps, and is second to Long with six tackles for loss. He leads the team with two interceptions, and he forced a fumble against Georgia Tech.
"What one of them can do from a skill standpoint the other one can do," Groh said of his defensive ends.
Great things always were expected from Long, given his bloodline and stellar high school career. Less was known about Fitzgerald, who missed most of his sophomore season and all of his senior season of high school with knee injuries.
In his one full season, however, he earned second-team all-state as a defensive lineman and excelled at tight end.
"After his junior year he had tons of offers, from everybody up and down the East Coast," said Patrick Kane, who was Fitzgerald's coach at Richmond's Hermitage High School.
Fitzgerald committed to Virginia a few days before suffering the knee injury that sidelined him for his final high school season. He took a redshirt year at Virginia, then blossomed as a first-year starter in 2006 while opponents concentrated on slowing down Long.
Long deserves some of the credit for his success, Fitzgerald said.
"He's taken me under his wing since I've been here," he said. "Other teams, they scheme against him more. It sort of gives me more of a chance to develop, and maybe I'll take over his role when he leaves."
Kane said he has not been surprised by Fitzgerald's immediate impact.
"His biggest attribute is his quick hands," Kane said. "That helps him on the defensive line. He has great hand-eye coordination, and that's showing up in some of the plays he's making for U.Va."
The most recent interception is a good example. Long batted Taylor Bennett's pass into the air, and Bennett tried to spike the ball to the ground. But the ball ricocheted off linebacker Clint Sintim's helmet toward Fitzgerald, who snagged it knee-high and took off running.
"I had no clue where the ball was at until it just popped out of there," Fitzgerald said.
Kane said the play illustrates Fitzgerald's knack for being in the right place at the right time, but added there was more involved than sheer luck.
"He had quick enough hands to pick it up," he said.
Also, there's more to Fitzgerald's success than natural athleticism, according to Kane and Groh. Kane said that even though Fitzgerald could not play as a senior, "he never missed a practice, never missed a Saturday morning film session."
Groh has noticed the same commitment and eagerness to learn.
"When a player has that, that's usually one of the traits of your better players," Groh said.
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