UNC Hosts Top Recruits for Saturday Practice

Tar Heels commit visits Georgia, while in-state DL prospect impresses in Chapel Hill

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:23am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college football practice or game, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, light blue, and white, conveying the fragmented, multi-perspective nature of the recruiting process.UNC's pursuit of top recruiting talent is a fragmented, multi-faceted endeavor, as the program aims to secure commitments from elite prospects like Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt and Tasheem Butler.Glassboro Today

The University of North Carolina football program is expecting several priority recruiting targets to attend Saturday's spring practice session. Among the visitors will be in-state defensive lineman Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt, who impressed the Tar Heels' coaching staff during a recent practice. Meanwhile, UNC linebacker commit Tasheem Butler took a visit to the University of Georgia over the weekend, though he insists his commitment to the Tar Heels remains solid.

Why it matters

Recruiting top high school talent is crucial for the Tar Heels as they look to build on their recent success and compete for ACC championships. Hosting these priority targets on campus gives the coaching staff a chance to showcase the program and build relationships that could lead to future commitments.

The details

Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman from Reidsville, North Carolina, attended a UNC practice on Tuesday and made a strong impression on the coaching staff. Pruitt, who currently holds offers from several service academies and Group of Five programs, said the Tar Heels are closely evaluating him and that he 'made a very good impression.' Meanwhile, UNC linebacker commit Tasheem Butler, from Glassboro, New Jersey, took a visit to the University of Georgia over the weekend, though he insisted his commitment to the Tar Heels is not in jeopardy.

  • Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt attended a UNC practice on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • Tasheem Butler visited the University of Georgia over the weekend of April 12-13, 2026.

The players

Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt

A 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman from Reidsville, North Carolina, who has been a regular visitor to Chapel Hill in recent years and impressed the Tar Heels' coaching staff during a recent practice.

Tasheem Butler

A linebacker commit to the University of North Carolina from Glassboro, New Jersey, who took a visit to the University of Georgia over the weekend, though he insists his commitment to the Tar Heels remains solid.

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What they’re saying

“'[The practice] was good. I really like the DL coach's style.'”

— Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt, Defensive lineman

“'[UNC's coaches] are going to watch me very closely. It sounds like I made a very good impression on them yesterday. So, we'll see.'”

— Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt, Defensive lineman

“'No, not at all.'”

— Tasheem Butler, Linebacker commit

What’s next

The Tar Heels will continue to evaluate Kadence 'Thor' Pruitt and monitor his recruitment, as they look to potentially extend an offer. Tasheem Butler's visit to Georgia did not result in an offer, and he remains firmly committed to UNC.

The takeaway

UNC's ability to host and impress top recruiting targets, both in-state and out-of-state, will be crucial as the Tar Heels look to build on their recent success and compete for ACC championships. The program's continued efforts to identify and secure commitments from elite talent will be key to their long-term success.