“I went with my family and they just fell in love with it,” he said. “I loved everything they had to offer me academically and athletically.”

Fitzgerald already has credits earned through Guilford County Schools’ early college program, and Old Dominion will allow him to build on that work.

“I’ll be put on a plan where basically I’ll graduate from college in three years and then for the last one or two years I can be working on my master’s while playing football,” he said. “They also have a great program for my major, Communications, so it felt like it was the perfect fit.”

The Monarchs, coached by Bobby Wilder, are 3-6 overall and 1-4 in C-USA this season with a young team. Fitzgerald will be part of an ODU recruiting class that also includes High Point Christian athlete Lance Boykin, and former High Point Central defensive end Tim Ward is a three-year starter as a junior.

“I’ll fit well in the offense, and the relationship with the coaches is already there,” said Fitzgerald, who leads Dudley in receptions (23) and receiving yards (471) and touchdowns (9) heading into Friday night's NCHSAA playoff game at Southeast Guilford. “I’m happy to be a Monarch.”

The Monarchs should be happy to get Fitzgerald, Dudley coach Steven Davis said.