Chicago defensive tackle Brad Fitzgibbon commits to Hawkeye football
Strongest kid in Chicago according to veteran recruiting analyst Tom Lemming
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Chicago-land area has been good to the Iowa football program from a recruiting standpoint.
Hayden Fry used players from Chicago to help rebuild the Iowa program in the early 1980s, while Kirk Ferentz has continued that tradition over the past quarter century as the Iowa head coach.
Ferentz and the Hawkeyes landed another key piece from Chicago on Tuesday as three-star defensive tackle Brad Fitzgibbon announced his commitment to Iowa.
Fitzgibbon explained his reasons for picking Iowa in a telephone interview on Tuesday. One thing that stood out to him wa the loylaty and the commitment from the Iowa players.
“The biggest decision in making Iowa my next home is I want to spend time with the players,” Fitzgibbon said Tuesday. “I think that’s a huge part is that coaches come and go, but players, if Iowa is an indication, don’t leave very often. So, I want to be surrounded by guys that are like me and that have the same mindset as me, and they’re also great friends of mine.”
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Fitzgibbon is the 12th player to commit to Iowa’s 2025 recruiting class, and the fourth since this past Sunday.
“He’s an interior defensive lineman, the strongest kid in Chicago,” said veteran recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who lives near Chicago. “He’s an outstanding run stuffer, tremendous work habits, great hands and feet.
“He’s a typical Iowa defensive tackle. He’s a stay-at-home type guy who can block everything up the middle. I think he’s a great catch. I think he’s a four-star guy.”
Fitzgibbon took an official visit to Iowa this past weekend, along with his parents and his older sister, who is a gymnast for the University of Illinois.
“I think family is a big part of recruiting and a a big part of my life, and I think it’s a big part of football as well and I wanted my entire family to be there to see it,” Fitzgibbon said. ”
Iowa was the last of his official visits to his three finalists – Iowa, Kansas and Michigan State.
Fitzgibbon is entering his senior year Marist High School in Chicago, which is also where Iowa cornerback John Nestor attended high school.
“He was my player host and he was great,” Fitzgibbon said. “He was one of the seniors I looked up to when I was a sophomore playing on varsity. He was one one of the guys who would chew my ass when I needed it, and he would pick me up when I needed it.
“So, I think he’s a great leader and somebody I will look up to my freshman year at Iowa.”
Iowa hosted multiple recruits this past week and it has since paid dividends as four players have committed to the 2025 class.
Three-star offensive linemen Cameron Herron and Lucas Allgeyer both committed on Sunday, while four-star cornerback Charles “CJ” Bell committed on Monday.
2025 Iowa Verbal Commitments
Joey VanWetzinga (OL/DL, Pleasant Valley)
Burke Gautcher (LB, Illinois)
Carson Cooney (LB, Illinois)
Jimmy Sullivan (QB, Indiana)
Eli Johnson (TE, Wisconsin)
Thomas Meyer (TE, Clear Lake)
Drew MacPherson (S, Illinois)
Mason Woods (TE, Iowa City West)
Cameron Herron, (OL, Indianapolis)
Lucas Allgeyer, (OL, St. Louis)
Charles “C.J.” Bell, (DB, Connecticut)
Brad Fitzgibbon, (DL, Chicago)