Larry Fitzgerald praises Kenny Dillingham following ASU offer to son Devin

Larry Fitzgerald threw some credit Kenny Dillingham’s way at the WM Phoenix Open’s Annexus Pro-Am on Wednesday following his son’s recent offer to be a Sun Devil.

“Obviously ASU is a program that’s truly on the rise,” Fitzgerald told Arizona Sports’ Tyler Drake. “Coach Dillingham is one of the best coaches in all of football in terms of developing players and really galvanizing the community here and the Valley.”

Devin Fitzgerald, a wide receiver at Phoenix Brophy Prep in the 2026 class, announced on Jan. 28 that he had received an offer following a “great discussion” with wide receivers coach Hines Ward.

“I love (Dillingham’s) approach and his commitment to the Valley. He’s a local guy, he wants to do it big here and wants to really enjoy his time here,” the Arizona Cardinals legend added.

“As Larry Fitzgerald, the Valley legend, goes, I can comment on him,” Dillingham told reporters on a Zoom call on Friday, noting that he cannot talk about unsigned recruits in compliance with NCAA rules.

“That’s pretty cool to hear that from somebody who I, as a fan, grew up watching at home on Sundays to see how he did it in such a professional manner … in such a respectful way, not just on the football field,” the coach continued. “I use a clip of his to show our team two-minute drills where he takes the ball, rips it out of his teammate’s hands and sprints it in in a two-minute drill because of his intelligence.

“When you think about Fitzgerald, yeah, you think about how good he was at football, but I think what people remember is just how good of a person he was. They remember him as Larry Fitzgerald. Man, that dude was so cool when I met him. That dude was smart. That dude’s involved in the community. There’s so much more depth to Larry than, you know, the football player Larry. And I think that’s what separates him and that’s what makes him the legend he is today in this community.”

The younger Fitzgerald now has 12 Power 4 offers under his belt, including to ASU and Arizona, as well as one from his father’s alma mater, Pitt.

He enjoyed a breakout season as a junior, totaling 720 yards and nine touchdowns on 52 catches across 13 games, according to MaxPreps. His season ended with an eight-catch, 102-yard performance in the 6A Final Four, a one-point loss to Mesa Mountain View.

ASU similarly came up short on a big stage, with the no-targeting call on a Melquan Stovall catch being what sticks with Larry the most from a double-overtime loss to Texas at the Peach Bowl.

“I’m still reeling from that horrible call that cost them a chance at the national championship, but that’s how it goes sometimes,” Fitzgerald said.

ASU can build on 2026 class with Fitzgerald

“I will say, the class we’re putting together (in 2026) has the starts of something special,” Dillingham said on Friday. “When you look at the kids that we’re getting and the kids that are committed and the type — not just the type of people they are, but the type of player they are — I think we’re definitely raising the bar at Arizona State for what it means to come here.”

There are three pass catchers committed to be Sun Devils in the 2026 class, where quarterback Jake Fette (No. 117 overall) is the top prize thus far.

Tight ends Israel Briggs (No. 180) and Hayden Vercher (No. 585) as well as 6-foot-4 wide receiver Cooper Reid (unranked) would give Fette some weapons he can grow with.

ASU is also in the mix for Fitzgerald’s fellow Brophy wide receiver Daylen Sharper (No. 622 overall in 2026), who outdid Fitzgerald in the Final Four game with 122 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches. Sharper visited ASU for its Junior Day on Feb. 2.

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