:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/37857658/kimoni_fitz.0.jpg)
The Essentials
- High School: Dan River High School; Ringgold, Virginia
- Position: Defensive End
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 230
- Consensus Rank*: 81 (***)
* As determined by 24/7 sports composite algorithm which combines and weights the rankings of 24/7, Rivals, Scout and ESPN to come up with one number.
Might as well start with the basics, this is the statline that Kimoni Fitz put up as a senior for Dan River. 115 tackles, 15 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and two defensive touchdowns. 115 tackles would be a lot for a linebacker. When you watch Fitz play* the first thing that pops out is how quick off the ball he is relative to everyone else. There are more than a couple plays in the above video where a quarterback attempts to read Fitz on an option play. But Fitz is so quick off the ball that he meets the quarterback and the running back at the mesh point. There is a play at the 4:08 mark where FItz gets to the ball carrier at the quarterback before the pulling guard can even get around to lead the back to the hole. Anyone can guess the snap count right and jump a play like that, but its a matter of routine for Fitz to do that. His first step is the kind of stuff that Robert Prunty dreams of as a defensive line coach.
For Fitz the bad news is that he is heading for a redshirt this year almost without question. The Bearcats have ridiculous depth at defensive end between Jerrell Jordan, Terrell Hartsfield, Silverberry Mouhon and part timer Brad Harrah* there aren't a whole lot of reps to be had. Then there is Mark Wilson and Ey'Shawn McClain who have both made cases to be passing downs specialists. Wilson in particular has opened some eyes.
* Its looking like Harrah will be part standard downs defensive end, part passing downs defensive tackle
The good news is that he will spend this season running the scout team, and working his butt off in the weight room. When he emerges this time next year with 20 more pounds of muscle on his frame Fitz will see a defensive end meeting room that will barren of those veteran's from this years team. There is a lot of playing time that could be had next year for Fitz, its just a matter of seeing this year through and being as productive as possible.