Mario Cristobal’s Miami makes bold recruitment moves as 4-star safety Bryce Fitzgerald joins the Hurricanes

The Miami Hurricanes, under the leadership of head coach Mario Cristobal, have made a significant recruitment stride by securing a commitment from four-star safety Bryce Fitzgerald. Bryce Fitzgerald, who ranks as the No. 12 safety and the No. 21 overall prospect in Florida for the class of 2025, according to 247Sports, announced his decision to join Miami on Saturday night.

He chose the Hurricanes over Florida, Florida State, and LSU. Nationally, Fitzgerald is listed as the No. 130 prospect across all positions, reflecting his high value in the recruiting landscape.

In June, Fitzgerald visited both Florida and Miami officially, but it was Florida State that posed the greatest challenge to the Hurricanes down the final stretch. However, the close relationships between Cristobal, assistant coach Alex Mirabal, and Fitzgerald played a pivotal role in his decision.

Fitzgerald’s connection with defensive backs coach Chevin Jackson, whose coaching style resonated with him, was particularly impactful.

"I like how he coaches," Fitzgerald shared with CaneSport. "He teaches, demonstrates, and then makes us do it. His hands-on approach is something I really appreciate,"

Bryce Fitzgerald made a name for himself during a breakout junior season at Columbus, where he recorded 10 interceptions—five of which came in the playoffs—helping his team secure their second consecutive state title.

With Fitzgerald's commitment, Miami now has 22 players in their 2025 recruiting class, including 10 blue-chip recruits. The addition of Fitzgerald marks the first safety to join this impressive group, which already includes four cornerbacks.

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Bryce Fitzgerald joins Miami Hurricanes, boosting their national recruiting ranking

Miami Hurricanes’ latest addition, multi-sport athlete Bryce Fitzgerald, has propelled the team to No. 9 in the 247Sports Team Rankings, surpassing Oregon. The 6'0.5", 172-pound four-star safety from Columbus High School in Miami chose to stay close to home,

"It's perfect. Down the street from Miami. They would be able to see me play every week. It would be a dream come true," Fitzgerald told InsideTheU.

During his sophomore year at Belen Jesuit, Bryce Fitzgerald showcased his versatility by intercepting five passes on defense and leading his basketball team to their first-ever state title, averaging 11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

In his junior year at Columbus, he stepped up further, recording ten interceptions and helping the team secure Florida's 4M state championship. His athleticism extends to track and field, where he qualified regionally in the high jump with a mark of 5-9.75 and clocked a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.

With Bryce Fitzgerald's commitment, Miami now has four Top247 defensive backs in its 2025 class, including standout safeties Hylton Stubbs and Amari Wallace, as well as cornerback Jaboree Antoine. Expected to enroll next summer, Fitzgerald will compete for a second state title in football this fall before returning to basketball and track.