Coveted 2025 TE flips commitment to Alabama

For the second time in as many weeks, Alabama’s football program has flipped another prospect previously committed elsewhere.

On Tuesday, Kalen DeBoer‘s staff flipped sought-after Class of 2025 tight end Marshall Pritchett from the North Carolina Tar Heels. Pritchett had been committed to UNC since March of this year. His commitment comes a few weeks after returning to Tuscaloosa for the Alabama vs. Georgia game.

The Tide also flipped JuCo defender Kevonte Henry from Mississippi State last week.

Pritchett joins On300 pass catcher Kaleb Edwards as Bama’s two tight end commitments in this recruiting cycle. The Tide were going to take two at the position group if they could, and they found the right ones in Edwards and Pritchett.

“All in all, I love everything that the staff has envisioned for me,” Pritchett told BamaOnLine of his decision. “They have plans to use me in a scheme where I believe I will thrive. Also, just the program in and of itself; Alabama is a program that consistently pumps people into the NFL year in and year out. It’s an incredible opportunity for me to maximize my future and I can’t wait to get to work.”

A top-25 tight end in this class, Pritchett has long had interest in the Crimson Tide. He grew up in a football household, with an Alabama offer being a coveted one in his recruitment. Pritchett visited Bama in March before being offered two months later. He would go on to take his official visit to the program from June 14-16.

Along with the Tide, the four-star recruit has been the recipient of offers from Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee and over two dozen other schools.

Alabama’s culture under Kalen DeBoer and the history of the program factored into Pritchett’s consideration of the Tide as well.

“I was talking with my dad about this the other day. It’s good to see a lot of the guys like Ryan [Williams] and those dudes with big personalities, and they’re able to show it under Coach DeBoer,” said Pritchett, whose primary recruiter was tight ends coach Bryan Ellis. “I think he’s allowing the guys to have fun and be themselves, but they’re also holding the standard down, and they’re still playing Alabama Football. That’s going to shine really bright in the next couple of years with how college football is changing. Letting guys be themselves and help them brand themselves the best.

“I think he’ll win a natty in the next three years from everything I’ve seen,” Pritchett continued. “I grew up a huge college football fan, and I just love what they do. Once they get this defense figured out and make some adjustments… I think he’ll turn it around.”

Marshall Pritchett, who will be arriving as an early enrollee, also recently opened up about his thoughts on offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and the outlook of their tight end room.

“I would say just the offensive style,” Pritchett previously told BamaOnLine. “Coach Sheridan was the tight ends coach at Washington. He knows how to use tight ends. He likes the position a lot, and he also knows how to get those guys the ball. Coach DeBoer’s offense has always had tight ends in his offense if you look at the stats back in the day… he always gets the tight ends involved.

“The last thing is just the opportunity I would have coming in early at the position,” Pritchett continued. “It’s not a very deep room right now. They don’t have a lot of depth, but they do have a lot of size. I think I can bring a versatility in the room that I don’t necessarily think they have right now.”

With Pritchett in the fold, DeBoer and Company are now up to 23 verbal commitments in his first-ever recruiting class at Alabama. The Tide also remain at No. 1 in the standings, ahead of the Ohio State Buckeyes. It now features commitments from three prospects in the state of Georgia, with the others being Darrell “Duke” Johnson and Luke Metz.

Also be sure to stay tuned to BamaOnLine for additional coverage from Marshall Pritchett’s commitment to Alabama.

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