2026 Safety Kareem Pruitt Talks UMass Commitment

The Minutemen went to Michigan to grab a top safety prospect in the Class of 2026

UMass football had another successful official visit weekend where we have seen five high schoolers commit to the Minutemen project so far, and they continue it with their third secondary signing in the last two weeks in Kareem Pruitt.

The 6-foot-3, 173-pounder resonated with UMass defensive backs coach Donald Celiscar and his mission for the program. The Orchard Lake native’s relationship with Celiscar dated all the way back to his days recruiting Pruitt as a coach at Western Michigan.

“He was one of the first coaches that started recruiting me,” Pruitt told Minuteman Command.

“He is a very good guy and is just a great family man. That’s what I want in a coach. He is someone that I can joke around with, but he is still about business.”

When the regime change occurred in Amherst and the Minutemen hired Celiscar to coach the secondary, the young safety received a call to come out to Amherst for an official visit, which he completed last weekend

“Since I stepped on campus, it was great,” Pruitt said. “The coaches welcomed me at the hotel and it was nice. The players were great to me and I had a great time.”

This comes after he received an offer from the school back on January 27. Following that, many schools showed interest in his talent, including the likes of Mid-American Conference rivals Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and Miami (Ohio).

“Miami (Ohio) was another one I liked a lot,” he said. “Probably my relationship with (UMass defensive coordinator Jared Keyte) was the one that separated UMass from the rest. He was calling me a lot and checking up on me.”

Keyte has impressed many in his first few months after coming over from Rutgers, and his recruitment continues to be on heavy display. Of the 17 commits in the 2026 class so far, 10 play on the defensive side of the ball. Pruitt is another highly-touted talent Keyte managed to lure in to Amherst.

Pruitt has a special ability to decipher where the quarterback will go with the football. In his junior season, he finished First Team All-State while accumulating 46 total tackles, with 26 being solo. He also registered 13 pass breakups and six interceptions, two of them going back for touchdowns.

“I’m a ballhawk and I’m going to tackle when needed to,” he said. “I’m physical and I can defend the run. I’m more of a safety, but I used to be a corner guy. As I grew older I migrated to safety, which is probably what I’m going to play in college.”

In terms of the culture new UMass head coach Joe Harasymiak is trying to input into the program, Pruitt was all about it. He was inspired by the trademark B.O.S., (Belief, Ownership, Sacrifice) the acronym Harasymiak has made popular.

“(Coach Harasymiak) is a great guy,” Pruitt said. “From my first conversation with him on the phone, to my last conversation with him before I left the official visit, I loved him. He’s very energetic and probably one of the best coaches I’ve met and talked to.”

Pruitt then spoke about his connection with current players he met on the visit, specifically safety Jeremiah McGill who played a big role in his stay. McGill represented the new culture the Minutemen were building, as well as the attitude of team before player.

“I want to be known as one of the best defensive backs to come through college,” he said. “Another (defensive back) that Coach Keyte and Coach Harasymiak put in to The League. I’m trying to set a standard to have people follow me to UMass as a trend setter.”

Next, he plans to finish out his high school senior season at St. Mary’s Prep. Pruitt officially announced his commitment on June 24 and plans to bring his exceptional length and silkiness to Western Massachusetts in 2026.

“I want people to say, ‘He came to UMass, they put him in The League and I want to come to UMass and get coached by some of the best coaches.’ I want to put this school on the map.”

CHECK OUT PRUITT’S JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS HERE

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