2025 3-star TE Gus Ritchey commits to North Carolina: 'The culture is amazing at North Carolina"

Pittsboro (N.C.) Northwood three-star tight end Gus Ritchey has been taking trips to North Carolina since he was a freshman. On his first visit he was there for a basketball game and saw Michael Jordan. The latest visit he watched a practice and saw Drake Maye work.

Each visit left Ritchey feeling more and more like Chapel Hill could be home. On Tuesday that feeling became a reality as Ritchey announced his pledge to the Tar Heels over Maryland and NC State.

“No other place matched the feeling for Chapel Hill for me,” Ritchey told On3. “I’ve been there so many times and there is nothing like it. The culture is amazing at North Carolina.

…They have football, basketball, academics and it’s just perfect for me.”

Ritchey is originally from Indiana but moved to North Carolina 8-9 years ago. Committing to North Carolina is something that Ritchey gives a hometown hero vibe. It also gives his family and friends the opportunity to come see him weekly at the next level.

The feeling to commit to North Carolina really started to click for Ritchey during his June visit He was on campus in June for the North Carolina Showtime Camp. During that camp he was paired up with North Carolina assistant defensive coach Gene Chizik and defensive line coach Tim Cross

He returned in July for another visit and that’s when it really seemed like it was time to make his decision. As that visit came to a close, Ritchey talked with North Carolina head coach Mack Brown and decided that it was time to pull the trigger.

“You just can’t get any better,” said Ritchey, the No. 367 player in the 2025 class. “The culture is perfect for me and Coach Brown and his staff are the best. There you can become a better football player and they’ll also develop you as a person. It’s just perfect and I’m excited to become a part of the Tar Heel family.”