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Max Olson, ESPN Employees Author
UConn defensive lineman Pryce Yates signed with North Carolina on Tuesday, sources instructed ESPN, becoming a member of the Tar Heels’ rising switch portal class below new coach Invoice Belichick.
Yates will play for the Tar Heels subsequent season after shining in opposition to them within the Fenway Bowl, recording a sack and three tackles for loss to earn defensive MVP honors after UConn’s 27-14 victory. Now he is switching sides to complete his profession within the ACC.
Yates, a redshirt junior from San Antonio, initially entered the portal Dec. 13 earlier than withdrawing eight days later and saying on social media he meant to return for the 2025 season. Following his bowl sport efficiency, Yates reentered the portal Dec. 30.
Hours earlier than Yates put his title again within the portal, UConn coach Jim Mora posted on X that he deliberate to “pursue all avenues” in opposition to groups that tamper together with his gamers and recruit them off the Huskies’ roster.
“A easy notice to the colleges and coaches which have blatantly damaged @NCAAFootball guidelines by tampering with our gamers within the final 24 hours,” Mora wrote on X. “We do know who you’re, we are going to pursue all avenues to carry you accountable. We’re excited that we have constructed a program the place coaches should cheat to beat us and we are going to shield that program. Assume exhausting earlier than you tamper with our gamers.”
Mora later added that he would not know how you can repair the tampering situation in faculty soccer, however that “we are going to expose any program and coach that violates” NCAA guidelines. He added: “I am 100% in opposition to grown males dishonest the foundations and educating gamers horrible life classes.”
Yates appeared in seven video games as a consequence of damage however recorded 21 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three.5 sacks for the Huskies throughout a 9-4 season, this system’s most wins since 2007.
North Carolina has picked up commitments from 13 transfers for the reason that six-time Tremendous Bowl-winning head coach took over this system Dec. 11.
