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2008 High School Football: Pryor Remains Uncommitted |
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Written by David DeIuliis
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Sunday, 10 February 2008 |
Jeanette, Pennsylvania is a small manufacturing town of about 10,000 located 30 miles outside of Pittsburgh. It has existed and persevered in relative obscurity since the 1880s but now, thanks to one athlete, the city has been thrust into the blinding national spotlight and become a vacation destination for college football scouts and coaches across the country. The athlete, of course, is Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor, the 6-foot-6, 220 pound quarterback of the Jeannette High School Jayhawks, while leading his team to a 16-0 record and the AA State Championship with effortless runs and crisp passes, attracted the attention of just about every college football powerhouse in America. In his career, he rushed for 4,250 yards and threw for 4,249 yards, becoming the first Pennsylvania high school player ever to do so, and when his ability to dominate against national competition was questioned, he delivered an MVP performance at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
The excitement and hype generated by Pryor in the area is palpable, and his accomplishments are even more impressive considering quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana also grew up littering the record books of Western Pennsylvania high schools. But before any of the hype can even begin to be fulfilled, Pryor has to decide where he’s going to play first, and that hasn’t been easy.
Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon have been the frontrunners in the Pryor sweepstakes for several weeks. On Feb. 6, National Signing Day, he was scheduled to reveal his choice, end the media circus, and make one coach very happy. And his decision is…he hasn’t made a decision yet. According to Pryor, his mind was made up on Feb 5, but after having a conversation with his father who favors Penn State, he decided to give the school a “fair shot” and make an official visit to Happy Valley. This is good news for Penn State fans, who know very well how to use the Joe Paterno mystique to their advantage.
Although Terrelle hasn’t made a decision yet, there’s no reason we can’t speculate like everybody else. According to sources close to Pryor, he is leaning toward Ohio State, and how can you blame him? The Buckeyes have won three straight Big Ten championships, played in two straight BCS National Championship games, and probably most pleasing to the ears of Terrelle Pryor, have sent scores of players to the NFL. Granted, they were embarrassed in both National Championship appearances, but don’t you think Jim Tressel and the coaching staff have been whispering in Pryor’s ear that he’s the missing piece that will get them over the hump? Terrelle has drawn comparisons to Vince Young, but also reminds me of a bigger, faster, stronger and more accurate Troy Smith with a quicker delivery, and Troy Smith won the Heisman Trophy. Prediction: Terrelle Pryor will win the Heisman trophy as a Buckeye.
Michigan is the only other school besides Ohio State that Pryor officially visited. Rich Rodriguez originally recruited Pryor to play at West Virginia and undoubtedly, watching Pat White and Steve Slaton dissect defenses had an effect on him. But when the master mind of the wishbone offense bolted to Michigan bringing his system with him, Pryor followed. He saw himself wearing maize and blue in front of 110,000 fans at the Big House, surrounded by athletic specimens, and at the helm of a dynamic offense for the next three or four years, all under the tutelage of one of the best offensive minds in college football. To add some more incentive for landing Pryor, Rodriguez has no backup plan at quarterback. So if Pryor chooses to pass up the Wolverines for, say, the Buckeyes of Ohio State, it could be a long year for Michigan. By the way, losses to Ohio State don’t go over well in Ann Arbor, just ask Lloyd Carr.
The wildcard in this otherwise Big Ten war is Oregon, and to continue the string of clichés, they might be a sleeper. Last season the Ducks became known for more than just their hideous uniforms. The offense of Mike Bellotti was thrust into the spotlight as Heisman Trophy favorite Dennis Dixon racked up huge numbers while leading the Ducks to the number two ranking. When Dixon went down with a knee injury, the offense was stagnant, revealing the importance of Dixon’s mobility. Although it may be a lot to ask of a 19-year-old kid, I think Pryor relishes the opportunity to carry a program on his shoulders. The only bad thing is that program happens to be 3,000 miles away. Terrelle has expressed the desire to make a visit to Oregon, and after seeing their multi-million dollar facilities, he might just stay.
And then there’s Penn State. The Nittany Lions have been using the mystique of Joe Paterno to attract recruits for decades, and it works. In 2004, despite a string of disappointing seasons that had some calling for his resignation, Paterno was able to lure then number one recruit Derrick Williams to Happy Valley. Defensive Coordinator Tom Bradley has made the two-hour trip to Jeannette several times, targeting Pryor’s father, and Paterno himself even made a rare recruiting visit to the Pryor residence. I imagine what concerns Terrelle, and most high-profile Penn State recruits, is how long the 81-year-old coach will remain. What is apparent though, is that whether or not Paterno is there, if Terrelle Pryor chooses to spend his Saturday afternoons in Beaver Stadium, the program is in good hands.
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Penn State 