The Alabama Crimson Tide recruiting team secured a significant commitment from 2025 tight end Marshall Pritchett, but the reaction has been unexpected.
While the Crimson Tide staff and fans are thrilled about the commitment, as are Pritchett and his family, many others were taken aback. Although the commitment itself was anticipated, the dramatic shift in Pritchett’s ranking caught people off guard. Previously viewed as an under-the-radar prospect, his rise in status was surprising.
After his commitment, Pritchett soared from 745th to 222nd in the 2025 class on the day he announced his decision. His rating also improved by three points, increasing from an 87 overall to a 90 overall after joining the Crimson Tide. Previously committed to the UNC Tar Heels, Pritchett was seen as a likely candidate to flip due to the team’s on-field performance.
In addition to UNC’s struggles, Pritchett has made a significant impact on the field this year. With his rising ranking and the influx of new offers, it seemed inevitable that he would change his commitment.
However, the ranking change came after the news of his commitment had already been confirmed, as many of his supporters have noted. Additionally, the adjustment in his ranking was long overdue, especially since Pritchett had experienced an unexpected decline in his status earlier. He started the 2025 rankings in 2023 as the 378th overall recruit, but gradually fell to 745th as new recruits were added to the database.
The change in his rating highlights issues not with how recruits are ranked, but with how the databases manage ranking adjustments. Instead of updating Pritchett’s ranking over time as he excelled on the field, new recruits were added to the database ahead of him.
This situation particularly underscores the problems with the ranking system following recruits’ commitment announcements. After his initial commitment to UNC, Pritchett stopped receiving attention regarding his ranking, leading to a significant and overdue change when he committed to Alabama.
Despite the drama around the rankings, Pritchett is a talented player on the field. He has amassed over 400 receiving yards and six touchdowns this season with a team ranked among the top 50 high school programs. As a junior, he also recorded six touchdowns, contributing to his team’s impressive record of 13 wins and just one loss throughout the season.
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