Heel Tough Blog: 2027 3✮ CB Commits to UNC

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The Tar Heels hot streak just continues to get hotter exiting their penultimate official visit weekend of the summer.

As first reported by Inside Carolina, 2027 3✮ CB Nazir Pitchford has flipped his commitment to UNC from Kansas following a visit to Chapel Hill over the weekend. The flip comes exactly one week after he committed to the Jayhawks following his official visit there last weekend.

Pitchford, the No. 892 overall prospect and No. 92 cornerback in the 2027 class according to Rivals Industry Rankings, hails from Palmetto High School in Palmetto, FL. This past year, as a junior, Pitchford collected just six total tackles and one pass breakup according to MaxPreps, while catching 22 catches for 344 yards and seven touchdowns on offense in just seven games. Judging off his film, those stats are likely inaccurate, at least on the defensive side of the ball.

Pitchford, who measures in at 6’1, 170 lbs., is an intriguing pickup on the outside for the Tar Heels. At 6’1, he has plenty of size to stick on the outside and there should be an appetite to have him do so with the way that he plays 50/50 balls down the field. He looks really good opening up and running with receivers down the field because of his speed and smooth hips and he has some nice quickness and burst that allows him to make some plays on the ball when he is in zone coverage. He isn’t nearly as involved in run defense as some of the team’s recent commits at corner have been at the high school level, but he is a smart, situational tackler that does a good job of coming up with stops on crucial downs. You would love to see more production in terms of takeaways, but you have to be pleased with what the highlight tape shows in terms of his ability to make plays on the ball. This is a nice upside pickup who feels like he has the potential to be a contributor at this level at some point in his career.

With his commitment, the Tar Heels now sit with 15 commitments total and have their second commit at the cornerback spot in this 2027 class. The commitment also jumps the class back up to No. 43 overall and No. 11 in the ACC according to the Rivals Industry Rankings.