By BILL BURRUS
Sports Editor
There was nothing easy about Nick Fitzgerald’s situation to begin the 2016 season.
Fitzgerald drew the start in the opener against South Alabama, played two series, then wasn’t seen the rest of the day. South Alabama shocked the Bulldogs 21-20, all of a sudden putting a different spin on the season.
Fitzgerald started again in the second game and rushed for 195 yards on 17 carries, breaking a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback, in a win over South Carolina. That performance provided hope for the season, but poor defense and the normal growing pains associated with being a first-time starting quarterback in the SEC plagued the Bulldogs. There was a win over Massachusetts, but also four other losses, which left the Bulldogs at 2-5 heading into the stretch run.
Through it all, Mullen publicly stuck by Fitzgerald. And it has paid off.
Fitzgerald became the first Bulldog quarterback and third signal caller in Southeastern Conference history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season after his record-setting performance in the Egg Bowl.
“He’s really come a long way and developed as a quarterback,” Mullen said after his team’s 55-20 win over the Rebels. “‘I always told Nick, ‘Let’s just worry about who you are. We’re going to build around you and what you do well. Don’t worry about who you’re not.’ I think all year too many people were worried about who he was not instead of who he was. He’s a pretty darn good quarterback.”
Fitzgerald is second in the SEC in total offense, averaging 294.2 yards per game. Fitzgerald has rushed for 1,243 yards and 14 TDs, and had seven 100-yard games. He also has thrown for 2,287 yards and 22 TDs.
“As the season has gone on, I’ve gotten more experience as a starter, and I’m feeling more and more comfortable,” Fitzgerald said. “Me and my teammates are learning from each other every day, like knowing exact tendencies and things like that.”
If Mullen’s track record is any indication, he is just scratching the surface with the 6-foot-5, 230-pound signal caller.
Mullen has worked his quarterback magic with Alex Smith and Tim Tebow. And then there’s Chris Relf and Dak Prescott at Mississippi State.
Coming out of the run-first program at Richmond Hill (Ga.) High, Fitzgerald was the No. 1,548 prospect in the 2014 class, according to 247 Sports. His only other offers were from Middle Tennessee State and Tennessee-Chattanooga.
While there’s a ton of work left to do on Fitzgerald the passer, the overall numbers actually are better than what Prescott produced as a sophomore in 2013. Fitzgerald rushed for more yards and touchdowns, threw for more yards and touchdowns, but wasn’t quite as accurate as Prescott.
“It’s hard replacing someone like Dak,” Fitzgerald said after beating Texas A&M 35-28 on Nov. 5. “With all he did and all the attributes that he had, he’s obviously a great leader. I knew, myself, I wasn’t that kind of guy, so I was going to be how I am and just make it work for myself and flex when I need to flex to kind of be like him in certain ways. A lot, I learned from him as a leader. He instilled a lot in me and I use that, but still I don’t get out of my own personality.”
Fitzgerald’s 3,539 yards of total offense are the third-most in school history. Prescott had 4,470 yards in 2014 and 4,381 yards in 2015.
It looks like Fitzgerald and the Bulldogs might get to play in a bowl game with a 5-7 record, and that will give Fitzgerald a couple more weeks of practice.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
