Now he's back at receiver, battling former walk-on Ryan Alderman for the starting slot position.
Fitzpatrick is looking "good, real good," Addazio said of the former Harrisburg High School standout. "He's majoring over there at wide receiver right now, kind of getting a chance to develop those skills."
The coach said he still plans to get Fitzpatrick a little work at tailback.
But if he does work with the running backs, that could take away from his opportunities to produce at wideout.
"I'm excited wherever they put me," said Fitzpatrick, who prides himself on being a team-first player. "I just want to play anywhere Coach Addazio needs me."
During spring drills, Addazio needed him to be Matt Brown's backup at tailback. Fitzpatrick responded by being named the most improved offensive player of the spring. He also rushed for 40 yards on five carries in the spring game.
Now, with the arrival of Boston College transfer Montel Harris at tailback, Fitzpatrick was moved back to receiver.
As long as he remains at wideout, Fitzpatrick has one goal: Keep the quarterbacks happy.
"I know what quarterbacks like in receivers, just the intangible things," he said, noting that he is a former quarterback. "They don't like a receiver that complains. They don't like a receiver that always calls for the ball."
More than just pleasing his quarterbacks, Fitzpatrick is determined to make any kind of contribution to the team.
"I just want to do what the team needs me to do to win," he said. "If that involves me blocking, me playing every special team, me catching the ball, me running the ball, it really doesn't matter.
"My expectation is when they need me to do something, I'll just go out there."
Contact Keith Pompey at 215-854-2939 or kpompey@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @pompeysgridlock, and read his blog at www.philly.com/OwlsInq
