Terrelle Pryor is Finally a Buckeye

The most memorable recruitment process in recent memory has finally come to an end.

Terrelle Pryor, a native of Jeannette, Pa., announced yesterday – six weeks after National Signing Day – that he will be playing his college football for Ohio State.

It seems only yesterday that I was standing in the Rivals.com film room when the first film of this mythical playmaker showed up. A dozen or so employees crowded around one small computer screen, giddy with excitement. I have never seen grown men coo over a football player. The 6-5, 230-pound red, white and blue streak was the talk of the office, causing adults to gossip like schoolgirls.

Now, nearly two years later, Ohio State fans are the ones smiling.

The trip from recruiting junkie message board fodder to starting quarterback in the ‘Shoe is a long one. In the fall of 2006, Pryor wrapped up his junior year with 1,732 yards passing and 15 touchdowns with 1,676 yards rushing and an additional 13 trips to paydirt. He was already sporting half-a-dozen offers, maybe more.

Fans and scouts should have known what was in store in 2007 when he started his senior campaign with a 57-yard touchdown run on his team’s first play from scrimmage. He stepped off the high school gridiron for the last time as a PIAA 2A state champion. In his final game against Dunmore, Pryor threw one touchdown, ran for three and caught yet another score. Jeannette High was never challenged in the 49-21 win – or in any other game for that matter.

Pryor finished his senior season with a statistical symmetry that I have never seen: 1,889 yards passing and 1,889 yards rushing – and 58 touchdowns. He also became the first player in WPIAL history to pass and rush for over 4,000 yards, finishing with 4,250 yards passing and 4,249 yards rushing.

One state championship was not enough for Pryor, however. The dynamic athlete is also a top-rated basketball recruit. He led Jeannette High School to a 76-72 overtime win over Strawberry Mansion in the 2A state title game, scoring 23 points and snagging eight rebounds. Those totals are actually quite paltry compared to some of his other games, where the very rare quadruple-double was not to far out of reach on a number of occasions.

With basketball finally behind him, the pressure to make a decision was certainly mounting. Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon and Michigan sat waiting for the young quarterback.

What is interesting is why they were waiting. In a Signing Day announcement – which was ironically to announce that he wasn’t signing – Pryor claimed that he needed more time to take visits. Oregon and Penn State were the likely beneficiaries. Yet, as Pryor finally announced on Wednesday that he was heading to Columbus, he still had not visited Oregon or Penn State, at least not officially. So why then did Pryor delay his announcement? He has been involved in the recruiting process for at least two full years. What did he not know on Signing Day? One thing is for sure: many different people were pulling him in many different directions.

It is likely that we will never know the truth. And Ohio State fans could not care less.

“I feel bad because I said no to Michigan, because I had so much of a bond with Coach (Rich) Rodriguez,” Pryor said at his press conference. “They had their hopes on me and I let them down but I am going with Coach Tress.”

It goes to show that there is no second place when it comes to recruiting.

There is one area of concern, albeit very minor. Pryor has made it apparent that the NFL is his ultimate goal. No one has the right to tell him otherwise, but what is worrisome is his obsession with the league.

“The night before I talked with a lot of NFL coaches and scouts to see what they thought I should do,” he said.

It is reasonable to solicit advice but to depend on it is unwise.

At Ohio State, he needs to be himself in order to be successful and win games like Buckeye fans are accustomed to. That means running the football and using his superior athletic ability to make plays. If he is too focused on his draft stock during his final year(s) and presses himself into being a pocket passer, it could be detrimental to the team.

Other than that, Buckeye fans have good reason to be excited. He is a dynamic athlete who immediately upgrades the depth at quarterback. Fans of the Scarlet and Gray should not have to wait long to see Pryor in action. Look for Jim Tressell to work him into the rotation much like Tim Tebow was used at Florida as a freshman. Buckeye fans do not need to be reminded of what happened Tebow’s freshman year.

It is a perfect situation for Pryor. He will get snaps in packages and situations that he is comfortable with. Tressell will allow him to enter the game and make plays with his legs first. Not only does this give Pryor some experience, but it also gives Todd Boeckman some rest. In addition, opposing defenses will have to gameplan for a completely different style of quarterback.

If he is half the player we all saw on film that first day two years ago, Ohio State fans – not SEC fans – will be the ones celebrating a national championship.