Pratt earned a scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he played for Head Coach Bill Dooley.

The 1972 team achieved the school's first 11–1 season culminating in a Sun Bowl victory against Texas Tech.

In the 1974 NFL draft, Pratt was selected in the third round by the Baltimore Colts.

He helped his team win three straight AFC East Division Titles from 1975 to 1977.

He was a key protector of NFL MVP and Pro Bowl quarterback Bert Jones.