How Miami’s Bryce Fitzgerald is using breakout freshman year to push teammates
Bryce Fitzgerald has some extra responsibilities with the Miami Hurricanes this year, and it’s a role he’s embracing.
“Just trying to push my younger guys,” Fitzgerald said Saturday.
OK, even saying that made Fitzgerald pause for minute as he processed what that meant.
Fitzgerald, a sophomore, is emerging as a veteran presence among Miami’s defensive backs heading into the 2026 season.
It’s a role that has been earned. Fitzgerald carved out a role during his freshman season that expanded as the year went on and ended with him hauling in six interceptions — the most among all freshmen last season, tied for second nationally in the country and the most by a Hurricanes player since Kamren Kinchens in 2022.
It’s also a role that’s needed. Miami has to replace its two most experienced players from its defensive backs room in Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas. They need players willing to prove they can elevate their game to the next level and do what’s needed to elevate the game of those around them.
Fitzgerald is showing he can do just that.
“It’s really just pushing each other and just holding each other accountable,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s great having each other.”
Fitzgerald, a former preps standout at Miami’s Christopher Columbus High, proved his worth from the jump as a freshman for the Hurricanes. He began in a rotational role, getting snaps on obvious passing downs. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman was putting him in a role where he could best succeed early, giving him reps that would boost his confidence as he started his college career.
It worked.
Fitzgerald recorded interceptions in three of his first five games — against Bethune-Cookman, South Florida and Florida State. He found himself playing a starter role down the stretch of the regular season when Scott was sidelined by a foot injury. His play didn’t drop off with the extra responsibility.
In fact, his best game came at the start of the Hurricanes’ College Football Playoff run, with Fitzgerald logging two interceptions in that game — including one on the goal line with 27 seconds left to seal No. 7 Miami’s 10-3 win at No. 10 Texas A&M.
“It was just not being selfish and becoming a team player,” Fitzgerald said. “I knew I had a role, and I just stayed with it.”
That role is now set to expand in Year 2. With Scott and Thomas off to the NFL Draft, Fitzgerald is expected to slide in and be a starter in one of those two roles. Most likely, he will be at safety with redshirt junior Zechariah Poyser. Omar Thornton, a Boston College transfer, would likely be Miami’s nickel cornerback in that case. Dylan Day, Conrad Hussey and freshman JJ Dunnigan figure to get rotational playing time as well.
As for which position Fitzgerald would prefer to play?
“Whatever the coaches need me to do,” Fitzgerald said. “Coach Hetherman told me playing a lot of different positions helps you get on the field and helps you in the long run. I’m living it up.”
He’s also making sure his teammates know what they need to do. He enters camp with the mentality that “nobody can beat you.” It’s a message that’s carrying over from Thomas and Scott and one he is working to relay to the newest crop of Hurricanes.
Fitzgerald knows he’s young, but he also knows he’s in a position to make a difference for the Hurricanes. He’s not taking that for granted.
“Really, it’s just I’ve got to stop being a kid,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve gotta change the mind-set. You’re a grown man now. So it’s really I’ve just gotta do real man things on and off the field — leading by example, talking to them, not letting them do the wrong thing. Got to do the little thing so they key into it.”
.JPG)