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Alabama linebacker Cam Pruitt signs with Miami Hurricanes: "Can’t wait to get down there"

Stephen Wagner covers recruiting for the University of Miami for On3 Sports and CaneSport. He can be found on Twitter at @stephenwag22 and reached at Stephen.Wagner@On3.com.by:Stephen Wagner•12/20/23•

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Cam Pruitt
(photo via Cam Pruitt)

Theodore (Ala.) three-star linebacker Cameron Pruitt’s recruitment wasn’t without its handful of dramatic – and occasionally stressful – moments for Miami fans, but at the end of the day it was never in serious doubt whether he would sign with the Hurricanes.

And now Pruitt is confirmed signing his UM papers.

A 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect who played a variety of positions on Theodore’s defense, Pruitt is expected to play linebacker for Miami and was primarily recruited by linebackers coach Derek Nicholson, with whom Pruitt quickly developed a connection. Miami ramped up its communication with Pruitt in May before getting him back on campus for an official visit in June, when he promptly committed.

Alabama, in Pruitt’s backyard, made its own quick run at him in late July. Nick Saban’s staff offered Pruitt following an impressive on-campus workout just before the start of the August dead period, where Pruitt quickly earned the attention of Alabama’s defensive staff. He maintained communication with Alabama’s staff – and a few other staffs – throughout the next few months, but Miami remained his undoubted leader throughout his recruitment.

“I’m not going to pick a school because of a name,” Pruitt told CaneSport after receiving his Alabama offer. “They’ve gotta show me why I should go there.”

Programs like Ole Miss remained in contact with Pruitt for some time, too, but Miami maintained a commanding lead over the other schools still pursuing him. A strong in-home visit in December only bolstered the Hurricanes’ standing.

“My mom feels good about the coaches,” Pruitt said. “My grandma, too. My grandma said they’re really good people. They enjoyed talking to them. Coach (Lance) Guidry is really funny, that’s what (my grandma) said.”

Pruitt wasn’t deterred by a handful of disappointing Miami losses to programs like Georgia Tech and NC State, noting he still felt the program is trending up and has had major recruiting success in each of the last two recruiting cycles.

By mid-November, Pruitt wasn’t totally shut down, but it was apparent it would be incredibly difficult for another program to pull him away from Miami. And by the start of December, he had few reservations about where he wanted to end up.

“Miami’s going to be it,” Pruitt said. “We can’t wait to get down there.”

Pruitt will be an early enrollee.

CaneSport’s Take

Pruitt is a dynamic, explosive defensive player constantly looking to make the big play and put his mark on a team’s defensive performance. Miami’s staff did a great job reaffirming his commitment time and time again and keeping the Hurricanes as his No. 1 option after he committed, and fans should be excited to see how he fits in in Coral Gables.

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