When the UNC football program recruited Pryce Yates via the transfer portal, the hope was that the veteran defensive end could serve as a key pass rusher for this year's squad.
Unfortunately, injuries have hampered that goal, forcing him to make a tough decision on his future.
After appearing in just one game as a Tar Heel, Inside Carolina reported that Yates is no longer with the program.
Pryce Yates no longer is with the UNC football team, sources confirm. As we reported Monday, the former UConn standout Yates had been contemplating whether to continue on with the Tar Heels due to a recurring injury situation.
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) October 21, 2025
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Yates has a history of concussions during his playing career. He missed the first six games of the 2024 season at UConn due to a concussion, and missed the first four games of this season due to a concussion that was suffered during August training camp.
He was able to return to play in one game, logging 30 snaps in the UNC football program's loss to Clemson.
While the news is very disappointing, it's totally a justified decision by Yates to step away from the team. He definitely didn't expect his fifth-year of eligibility to go this way, but he ultimately had to make the right decision for his future health.
Not much has gone right for the UNC football program this season, as this is yet another example of that. Yates was projected to be a key contributor on the defensive side of the football, as it's even more evident now how his presence is missed due to the team's struggles in getting to the quarterback.
While his short tenure with the UNC football program didn't go as planned, the hope is that he will return to full health, becoming successful in whatever path life ultimately takes him on.