Player Profile 4: Larry Fitzgerald

By: Matt Davis

Who's a 1st round pick in the 2004 draft and a Probowl MVP? That would be Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

Larry Darrell Fitzgerald was born on August 31st 1983 in Minneapolis Minnesota. At the age of 15 Larry was hired as the Minnesota Vikings official ball boy until the age if 18. In that time he ending up playing defensive end for the varsity Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. Larry played there for 3 years starting as a sophomore.

In 2002 Larry graduated and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh. He played wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Panthers. In 2003 (sophomore year) he was starting to be recognized as one the the best NCAA wide receivers. By the end of the year he won the Walter Camp award and was runner up for the Heisman Trophy (which recognizes the best collage football player).

When he was a junior he caught 161 pass' for 2,677 yards. Larry also won the Paul Warfield Trophy. The record for most consecutive games with at least one touchdown was 14. That was until Larry Fitzgerald came along and went 18 strait.

Larry was the third overall draft in 2004 by the Arizona Cardinals. Larry Fitzgerald ended up with 58 catches and 780 yards. He also became one of the youngest players to have 2 TDs in one game. The media went crazy over Larry during the 2004 off season.

In 2005 Larry led the NFL with 49 catches and 561 yards. Larry was also a pro-bowl starting wide receiver. Him and Anquan Boldin were the third wide receiver duo to get over 100 catches and over 1,400 yards in one single season.

“Larry Fitzgerald has been recognized as one of the greatest receivers of his time”-ESPN Magazine.