3-star TE Marshall Pritchett commits to North Carolina: 'I really knew after I visited North Carolina in January'

Marshall Pritchett was offered by North Carolina early. The Tar Heels were one of the first schools to offer the versatile tight end out of Rabun Gap (Calif.) Rabun-Gap Nacoochee. Phil Longo extended the offer before he moved from Chapel Hill to join Luke Fickell‘s staff at Wisconsin over a year ago.

The interest was high from the beginning. Others entered the race at different stages, but for months, Pritchett was comparing other schools to North Carolina. South Carolina is his home state school and the Gamecocks were high on his list. Miami, Michigan and Wisconsin were three others. But he kept coming back to Mack Brown‘s program.

“I really knew after I visited North Carolina in January,” Pritchett said. “Both me and my dad knew. We were riding back home in the car and we looked at each other. It was that feeling. On that visit, I just knew it was North Carolina.”

Pritchett didn’t want to act too quickly. He took more time, more visits and continued to speak with around a dozen coaching staffs. That was until this week. He made the call the staff in Chapel Hill and made it official.

“The staff was a big part of my decision. I can say that I was always comfortable around them. Coach Brown, Coach Freddie Kitchens, Coach Chip Lindsey and the whole coaching staff made me comfortable.

“From the beginning, it was easy to talk to them and they recruited me hard from the beginning. The staff is good people. The relationships, especially with Coach Kitchens, made a big difference. The biggest thing that put North Carolina on top was the level of comfort I have with them and around the people there.”

Pritchett likes the fit too. That was important to the 6-foot-5, 210-pound athlete. He wants to be utilized and he sees that opportunity at North Carolina.

“Being used properly was always something I was thinking about. In North Carolina’s offense, they use guys like me. I am not that traditional type at tight end. I am more of a hybrid that can be moved around and used in different ways.

“The opportunities I have in the offense and the scheme under Coach Lindsey fits me. That was another important factor.”

Pritchett is the No. 23 tight end and No. 412 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking.