{"id":74352,"date":"2025-06-11T13:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T17:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/?p=74352"},"modified":"2025-09-13T16:11:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T20:11:16","slug":"sorry-bama-justice-fitzpatrick-commits-to-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2025\/06\/11\/sorry-bama-justice-fitzpatrick-commits-to-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"Sorry, Bama: Justice Fitzpatrick Commits to Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kirby Smart sent out his Go Dawgs tweet again this week. Cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick announced his commitment this week to Georgia. If the last name sounds familiar to Georgia fans, it should. Fitzpatrick’s older brother, Minkah, played for Smart at Alabama. The elder Fitzpatrick played for the Tide from 2015 to 2017. He played safety and the “star” position, a key in Smart’s defense. Fitzpatrick was a two-time All-American, won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player, and won the Jim Thorpe Award for top defensive back in 2017.<\/p>\n

The younger Fitpatrick was being recruited by both Georgia and Alabama. It was the relationships, though, that won him over to the Red and Black. As he told On3’s Chad Simmons back in March, “I know him well, my family knows him well, and we have a great relationship. I have gotten to know the coaches at Georgia well, I have worked with them at camp, and I feel like Georgia checks off most of my boxes.\u201d Here is a closer look at Georgia’s newest commit and a quick look at the recruiting battles between Alabama and Georgia.<\/p>\n

Sorry, Bama: Justice Fitzpatrick Commits to Georgia<\/h2>\n

Position: <\/strong>Cornerback
\nHeight:<\/strong> 6′
\nWeight<\/strong>: <\/strong>185 lbs
\nSchool:<\/strong> St. Thomas Aquinas
\nOther schools recruiting him:<\/strong>\u00a0 Alabama and Texas<\/p>\n

Fitzpatick is in line with his older brother. Here is the scouting report on Smart’s newest Dawg:<\/p>\n

“Outside corner with first-class bloodlines that meets key height\/weight\/speed thresholds. Not afraid to play through hands at the catch point and will finds ways to avoid flags…Should be viewed as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Four level that could thrive in a quarters-heavy system given how he reads and reacts. Advanced feel for the game might have him on the field sooner rather than later.” – Andrew Ivins, 247Sports<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Georgia vs. Alabama: Tops in Recruiting<\/h3>\n

Since Smart took over as Georgia\u2019s head football coach in 2016, Georgia and Alabama have consistently been at the top of the recruiting rankings. Smart is one of the top disciples from Nick Saban’s coaching tree. He has brought over his version of The Process to Athens. Here is a quick look at how the two schools have been locked in a recruiting battle since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year<\/th>\nAlabama Rank<\/th>\nGeorgia Rank<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2017<\/td>\n#1<\/td>\n#3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\n#5<\/td>\n#1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/td>\n#1<\/td>\n#2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2020<\/td>\n#2<\/td>\n#1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2021<\/td>\n#1<\/td>\n#4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2022<\/td>\n#2<\/td>\n#3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2023<\/td>\n#1<\/td>\n#2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2024<\/td>\n#2<\/td>\n#1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025<\/td>\n#4<\/td>\n#2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Georgia vs. Alabama Top Commitment Battles<\/h3>\n

Georgia and Alabama are regularly in the mix for top-ranked players. Let’s take a quick look at some of the key head-to-head wins for both programs.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Georgia Wins:<\/strong><\/h4>\n