From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on USC S Bishop Fitzgerald.
No. 19 Bishop Fitzgerald/S USC 5110/201 (Fifth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Bishop Fitzgerald 5110/201 9 1/2″ 31 1/4″ N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.55 1.58 N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A 33 12
The Good
– Dense, compact frame
– Good change of direction and hip fluidity
– Good acceleration from a standstill that lets him close on the ball in a hurry
– Great pattern and route recognition that allows him to jump passing lanes
– Rarely gets fooled by quarterbacks attempting to use eye manipulation
– Demonstrates good footwork in man coverage with no wasted movement
– Capable of squeezing zone windows
– True ball hawk with a nose for the football
– Great timing when contesting the ball at its peak
– Shows soft, receiver-like hands who seek the turnover rather than the pass breakup
– Attacks the ball carrier with urgency
– Plays physically and willingly in the box
– Reliable tackler in confined spaces
– When he is able to square up the ball carrier, he rarely misses
The Bad
– Limited deep recovery speed when he is playing from behind
– Lacks top-end gear to play centerfielder consistently
– Vulnerable to getting stacked on deep vertical routes in man coverage
– Aggressive to a fault
– Susceptible to double moves or pump fakes
– Plays with a high-risk, high-reward mentality that can leave him out of position if he guesses wrong
– Takes questionable pursuit angles
– Can get confused by complex blocking schemes and eye candy in the backfield
– Overcommits in his pursuit, leaving himself vulnerable to a cutback
Stats
– 2025 Stats: 52 tackles, 1 sack, 5 interceptions, 3 pass deflections, 6 missed tackles, 16 receptions allowed, 1 touchdown, 10 games played
– Career Stats: 205 tackles, 1 sack, 16 interceptions, 19 pass deflections, 19 missed tackles, 46 receptions allowed, 3 touchdowns, 53 games played
– NC State Career Stats: 97 tackles, 5 interceptions, 11 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 13 missed tackles, 29 receptions allowed, 26 games played
– Coffeyville CC Career Stats: 57 tackles, 6 interceptions, 8 pass breakups, 2 touchdowns, 17 games played
– 9.8 yards per reception allowed (2025)
– 88.3 passer rating against (2025)
Injury History
– Dealt with a nagging hamstring strain during fall camp but didn’t miss any time (2023)
– Suffered a knee injury in the first half against Iowa, which caused him to miss the next two games (2025)
Background
– 22 years old
– Spent two years at Coffeyville Community College before transferring to NC State for another 2 years
– Spent his last season with USC after the NCAA made all former JUCO transfers eligible for the 2025 season
– Zero-star recruit who had his senior season shifted to the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic
– Played quarterback in high school and led Gar-Field to its first district title since 1994
– Zero Division 1 offers despite being the District Offensive Player of the Year
– Switched to safety when he entered JUCO
– No. 10 JUCO transfer rating and No. 1 JUCO safety transfer
– First-team All-Big 10 and First-team All-American (2025)
– Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist (2025)
– All-ACC Honorable Mention (2024)
– NJCAA first-team All-American and Defensive Player of the Year (2022)
– Organized a free football camp with his mother in his hometown
– Graduated from USC with a degree in Communications
– Loves East Coast seafood
– Described as a “vocal alpha” in the locker room
Tape Breakdown
Fitzgerald is a ball hawk by trade. Despite missing the final three games of last season, he still finished third in the Big Ten with five interceptions. His ability to generate turnovers from his safety spot isn’t a product of luck. His background as a high school quarterback gives him a unique perspective on the back end, allowing him to process route combinations and patterns more quickly than most. That processing speed consistently puts him in position to make a play on the ball.
On top of the mental side of his game, he shows impressive closing burst once he diagnoses what’s happening in front of him. While he doesn’t have true sideline‑to‑sideline track speed, he has more than enough short‑area acceleration to close passing windows in his vicinity.
Fortunately for Fitzgerald, lacking elite straight‑line speed isn’t a death sentence for a safety. The position is rich in nuance, and he shows impressive skill and fluidity in his movements. His transition from a backpedal into a sprint is seamless, and he wastes little motion when changing direction. That efficiency of movement allows him to cover a lot of ground, even though he tested as the slowest safety at the Combine.
His footwork serves him well both as a zone defender and in man coverage. In zone, his stop‑start quickness lets him close passing windows and force quarterbacks to hesitate before attacking his area. In man coverage, his quick feet allow him to stay glued to a receiver’s hip and transition smoothly through their breaks.
His tackling is an element of his game that often flies under the radar. For a safety—particularly one known for taking the ball away—comfort and effectiveness in the box can become an afterthought. Fitzgerald, however, plays with a tough, physical mindset and aggressively attacks the ball carrier.
Like many defensive backs, he will often target the ankles against bigger ball carriers, but he has generally proven to be reliable when he gets his hands on the opponent. His issues in run defense have less to do with tackling and more with the angles he takes to the football.
Fitzgerald’s primary flaw is his over-aggressiveness. While it unquestionably boosts his turnover production, it also makes him a classic high-risk, high-reward defender. In coverage, he can be vulnerable to double moves and play fakes, revealing just how eager he is to jump routes and make a play on the ball.
Against the run, his aggression manifests as over-pursuit. He can misjudge his angle and end up too far in front of the ball carrier instead of staying attached to their hip. More importantly, that aggressiveness can cloud his anticipation. Complex blocking schemes can confuse him, pull him out of position, and leave the defense exposed to explosive gains.
Conclusion
Overall, Fitzgerald is a prospect with the talent to outperform his draft slot. His lack of straight-line speed will push some teams away, but make no mistake: he’s a playmaker in the secondary. Throughout his career, he’s been a magnet for the football, largely because of his understanding of passing concepts rooted in his quarterback background.
From day one, he projects as a quality coverage defender on the back end. His movement skills and transitions are so smooth that he can change direction without losing speed or balance. Fitzgerald may not be the fastest safety, but his burst and acceleration allow him to close the gap between himself and the nearest threat in a hurry.
His value will likely be tied to teams that feature more split-safety looks. Organizations built on heavy Cover 1 or Cover 3 may hesitate to invest in a deep safety with limited recovery speed. His inherent high-risk mentality can also test the patience of defensive coaches, as it introduces greater variance in big plays.
Whoever drafts him gets a high-floor player who can develop into a solid starter. While his scheme dependence places a ceiling on his long-term upside, he profiles as a potential value pick for the team that tailors his role correctly.
Fitzgerald’s game closely mirrors Damontae Kazee’s. Physically, they are nearly identical in stature, and their play styles track as well. Both safeties play with an aggressive mindset that can generate plenty of turnovers but also surrender big plays at a similar rate. They rely on anticipation, which boosts play speed but can cause misreads, false steps, and poor positioning.
NFL Draft Projection: Early-Mid Day 3
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.8 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.6 – 8.3
Games Watched: @ Virginia Tech (2024 – NC State), @ Georgia Tech (2024 – NC State), vs. Missouri State (2025), @ Purdue (2025), @ Illinois (2025), vs. Michigan (2025), @ Notre Dame (2025)
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