Nick Fitzgerald 2018 NFL Draft

2016 St. Petersburg Bowl MVP
2016 Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
2016 SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week (vs. Texas A&M, at Ole Miss)
2016 Davey O’Brien Great 8 QB List (vs. Texas A&M, at Ole Miss)
2016 Manning Award Star of the Week (vs. Texas A&M, at Ole Miss) 
2016 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
2015 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

CAREER: One of the nation’s elite returning quarterbacks and the SEC’s returning leader in total offensive yards … Coming off one of the most prolific seasons in SEC history in which he broke single-season league records for 100-yard rushing games by a QB (8) and average yards per rush by a QB (7.1) … A dual-threat playmaker who became the starter as a sophomore in 2016 after serving as the backup to Dak Prescott as a redshirt freshman in 2015 … Tremendous speed, durability and a strong arm … Played in 21 games with 13 starts … Accounted for 43 touchdowns – 24 passing and 19 rushing – which already ranks fifth in school history … Since Oct. 29, 2016, leads the nation in touchdowns responsible (24) and total offensive yards per game (363.5) … Tied for ninth in MSU history in passing TDs (24) … Racked up 4,160 yards of total offense – 1,502 rushing and 2,658 passing – which is 10th in school annals … Tied for the school record in 100-yard rushing games (8) … Three times has gone over 400 yards of total offense in a game … No player in school history owns more 300-yard passing/100-yard rushing games (3) … Owns a 6-7 record as a starter and nine school statistical records … Heads into the 2017 season having produced at least 100 yards rushing in six out of his last seven games … Arrived on campus for Liberty Bowl practices in December 2013 and then redshirted as a true freshman in 2014 … Came from an offense at Richmond Hill High School that ran the triple-option and was offered a scholarship only by MSU and Middle Tennessee … Honor student in the classroom as a finance major.

2016 SOPHOMORE SEASON: Delivered one of the most remarkable seasons by a first-year starter in SEC history … Started all 13 games and broke nine school records – four single-season and five single-game … Single-season school records were yards per rush (7.1), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,375), 100-yard rushing games (8) and 100-yard rushing games by a QB … Also set SEC records by a QB in 100-yard rushing games and average yards per rush … Third behind only Johnny Manziel and Cam Newton in single-season rushing yards by a QB in SEC history … Tops in the nation in 300-yard passing/100-yard rushing games (3) and became the first SEC QB to do it three times since Manziel in 2012 … Led the SEC in total offensive yards (3,798), rushing touchdowns (16) and 100-yard rushing games (8) … Responsible for 37 touchdowns – 21 passing and 16 rushing – which was second in the SEC and third in school history behind only Dak Prescott … Second nationally to only Heisman winner Lamar Jackson in 100-yard passing/100-yard rushing games (7) … Ranked third nationally in QB rushing yards and third in MSU history among all positions … Completed 196-of-361 passes for 2,423 yards, which was fourth in school history … No. 1 in the SEC in 10+-yard plays from scrimmage (45) … Ranked third overall in the SEC in rushing yards per game (105.8) … Registered his first career 300-yard passing game, completing 26-of-39 for 305 yards and three scores at UMass (9/24) … Joined Dak Prescott as the only two players in SEC history to account for over 530 yards of total offense and seven TDs in a game when he did it against Samford (10/29) … Was the only FBS QB in 2016 to achieve the feat as he tied an SEC record for single-game TDs responsible … A week later, led the Bulldogs to win over No. 4 Texas A&M (11/5), accounting for 391 yards of total offense and four TDs … Was named SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his effort against the Aggies and became just the third SEC QB in the last 20 years to pass for over 200 yards and rush for over 175 yards in a game joining Manziel and Newton … Spectacular passing game against Arkansas (11/19), completing 22-of-33 for 328 yards with two TDs and zero interceptions … Accounted for six TDs against the Razorbacks, rushing for a season-best four scores, fourth-most in a game in school records … Produced the greatest QB performance in Egg Bowl history and was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week, breaking three MSU single-game records and accounting for five touchdowns in the 11/26 win … Broke marks for rushing yards (258), rushing yards by a QB and average yards per rush (18.4) at Ole Miss … The 18.4 mark also is second in SEC single-game history and highest since LSU’s Harvey Williams’ 19.6 vs. Rice in 1987 (minimum 10 carries) … His 258 rushing yards in the Egg Bowl was the most by an FBS QB since Navy’s Keenan Reynolds had 277 vs. Georgia Southern on Nov. 15, 2014 … Voted MVP of the St. Petersburg Bowl after accounting for 268 yards of total offense and two scores.

2015 REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON: Served as the backup to Dak Prescott, seeing action in eight games … Completed 11-of-14 passes for 235 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions … Rushed 23 times for 127 yards and three touchdowns, which ranked second on the team … Made his collegiate debut late in the season-opening victory at Southern Miss (9/5), rushing two times for 36 yards … Accounted for three touchdowns against Northwestern State (9/19) – his third collegiate game – throwing for one and rushing for two more … Was a perfect 4-of-4 through the air for 90 yards against the Demons … Spelled an ill Dak Prescott early against Troy (10/10) and completed 6-of-7 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns, while also carrying the ball eight times for 29 yards and a score … Maintained over a 3.0 GPA and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

2014 TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON: Redshirted during initial year with the program after officially enrolling at MSU in January 2014 … Went through 2013 Liberty Bowl practices and then spring practice in 2014.

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner for head coach Lyman Guy who guided the Wildcats to a 10-2 overall record and the second round of the Georgia High School Association Class 5A State Football Championship as a senior … Earned Honorable Mention Georgia Sports Writers Association and Atlanta Journal Constitution Class 5A All-State selections following senior year … Named the Region 3-5A Player of the Year after final campaign … A three-star recruit according to ESPN.com and 247Sports and a two-star by Rivals.com … A triple-option quarterback who went 33-for-76 in the air, throwing for 778 yards and 12 touchdowns while tossing just three interceptions during final campaign … Carried the ball 182 times for 1,429 yards and 25 scores in 2013 … Lifted the Wildcats to opening-round playoff win over Thomas County Central with 150 rushing yards and both of the team’s TDs … Tabbed the WSAV Memorial Health/Chatham Orthopaedic Associates Blitz Performer of the Week and Enmark Player of the Week for the fourth week of the season after accounting for seven touchdowns against Glynn Academy … Rushed for 162 yards and five scores and tossed two TD passes in the contest … Named to the Greater Savannah Area Football Team as both a junior and senior … Started as a wide receiver in 2012, catching 18 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns … Served as the backup quarterback to Air Force’s Dominique Allen during junior campaign and tallied 334 yards rushing and six scores as part of the triple-option offense … Helped the Wildcats go 8-3 and reach the state playoffs for the first time since 1996 as a junior, when he was a First-Team All-Region 3-5A selection … Also named First Team All-County during after 2012 season … Played three years of basketball for Richmond Hill, averaging 7.9 points per game and 5.8 rebounds a contest as a junior.

PERSONAL: Born Nicholas Dylan Fitzgerald on Jan. 14, 1996 in Germany … Parents are Derrick and Annetta Fitzgerald … Father served in the Air Force … Has two siblings, Justin and Kristjan … Uncle Charles Pledger played cornerback at the University of Georgia from 1990-93 … Grew up attending Georgia football games … Lists David Greene as favorite athlete and Eric Church as favorite musician … Is a huge hockey fan … Two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll who is majoring in finance … Twitter handle is @NickFitz07.

FITZGERALD’S CAREER HIGHS
Pass Attempts: 39, at UMass (9-24-16)
Pass Completions: 26, at UMass (9-24-16)
Pass Yards: 417, vs. Samford (10-29-16)
Pass Touchdowns: 5, vs. Samford (10-29-16)
Long Pass: 74, vs. Samford (10-29-16)
Completion Percentage: 69.7, vs. Arkansas (11-18-16)
Rush Attempts: 20, vs. Texas A&M (11-5-16)
Rush Yards: 258, at Ole Miss (11-26-16)
Rush Touchdowns: 4, vs. Arkansas (11-18-16)
Long Rush: 74, (twice) last vs. Texas A&M (11-5-16)
Total Offense Yards: 536, vs. Samford (10-29-16)
Touchdowns Responsible: 7, vs. Samford (10-29-16)

FITZGERALD’S MSU SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS (4) 
Yards Per Rush: 7.1 (2016)
Rushing Yards by a Quarterback: 1,375 (2016)
100-Yard Rushing Games: 8 (2016)
100-Yard Rushing Games by a Quarterback: 8 (2016)*

* – denotes SEC record

FITZGERALD’S MSU SINGLE-GAME RECORDS (5) 
Rushing Yards – 258 at Ole Miss (2016)
Rushing Yards by a Quarterback: 258 at Ole Miss (2016)
Yards Per Rush: 18.4 at Ole Miss (2016)^
Touchdowns Responsible: 7 vs. Samford (2016)*
Passing Touchdowns: 5 vs. Samford (2016)

* – denotes SEC record
^ – denotes second in SEC history

7/9/2017

Every year there is a quarterback who can make strides on the competition and I feel Fitzgerald possesses the ability to accomplish that task. He has the size and mobility to put up staggering numbers. Last season he finished second nationally to only Heisman winner Lamar Jackson in 100-yard passing/100-yard rushing games (7). Lofty expectations will be in store for Fitzgerald this season. He replaced Dak Prescott at Mississippi State, who exceeded expectations for the Dallas Cowboys and may help enhance his value to NFL evaluators this fall.