Former University of Virginia football standout Jeffrey Fitzgerald is headed to Kansas State, Hermitage High coach Patrick Kane confirmed last night.

Fitzgerald, who played for Kane at Hermitage, withdrew from U.Va. in February. He'll be eligible to play one season at K-State-- 2009 -- after sitting out this fall as a transfer.

Wildcats coach Ron Prince is a former U.Va. offensive coordinator. Already on Kansas State's roster is another transfer from Virginia, linebacker Olu Hall, who has two seasons of eligibility left.

During his search for a new home, Fitzgerald considered Division I-AA James Madison University, among other schools. In the end, though, the opportunity to play for Prince, who spent five seasons on U.Va. coach Al Groh's staff, and at the I-A level sold Fitzgerald on Kansas State.

"Obviously, he's already proven he's one of the better players in the ACC," Kane said. "Now if he goes out there and does it in another conference, that probably raises his [NFL] stock even more."

After redshirting as a freshman in 2005, Fitzgerald teamed with Chris Long to give Virginia one of the nation's best set of defensive ends in 2006 and '07. In his two seasons, Fitzgerald made 12 sacks, intercepted four passes and scored two touchdowns.

Citing privacy laws, U.Va. would not say what led to Fitzgerald's departure in February. But sources told the Richmond Times-Dispatch an academic issue prevented Fitzgerald from staying at U.Va. -- Jeff White