Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor: Heisman Hopeful?

by Matt Algarin
Ohio State Contributor
BleacherReport.com



Entering his sophomore year at Ohio State, Terrelle Pryor is now the big man on campus. Lofty expectations hide in every corner and talks of a return to a New Year’s Day bowl game are everywhere.

Currently, coaches, media, and national television talking heads are in an uproar about whether Terrelle Pryor could really have run a 4.33 40-yard dash. This is a pretty impressive number, considering that only receivers Ray Small, DeVier Posey and running back and former Mr. Football in Ohio Brandon Saine ran under 4.5.

“I’m not so sure he might not be one of the fastest guys in the conference,” OSU coach Jim Tressel told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

As you know, former West Virginia quarterback Pat White had the fastest 40 time at the combine over the past two years. White posted a 4.55.

All this talk about Pryor made me wonder. How does Pryor stack up against the big boys? Can he be considered a Heisman Hopeful?

As a freshman, Pryor had a completion percentage of 60.6 and threw for 1,311 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Pryor also rushed 124 times for 53 yards and six touchdowns.

In addition to just the pure numbers, Pryor was 9-1 as a starter, the Big 10 freshman of the year and Big 10 preseason offensive player of the year.

So, let's take a minute to compare Pryor’s freshman stats to those of Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy.

Tebow, as a freshman had a completion percentage of 66.7, threw for 358 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 469 yards and eight touchdowns.

Bradford had a completion percentage of 69.5 while throwing for 3,121 yards, 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Bradford set a NCAA record with his 36 touchdown passes as a freshman and was honored by The Sporting News and Rivals.com as an All-American.

Colt McCoy, in his freshman year had a completion percentage of 68.2. McCoy threw for 2,570 yards, 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

While Pryor’s numbers are not the best of the four quarterbacks, he, as well as Tebow, shared snaps in his freshman year. Bradford is clearly the top freshman on this list. All of these quarterbacks improved their numbers in the following season. If you don’t recall, Tebow won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore.

What can we expect from Pryor this season?

I think we can expect more of what we saw last year and then some. Pryor is set to make big strides in the passing game. He is going to be more comfortable in the offense and taking snaps from under center.

There are some questions in the Buckeye camp that are going to have to be answered. The receivers that Pryor will be throwing to are not the household names of Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie.

Senior Ray Small and junior Dane Sanzenbacher are the top two receivers in camp right now. If they can step up and give Pryor some open targets on a consistent basis, then the passing game should not miss a step.

The other question is how the Buckeyes are going to replace the departed Beanie Wells. Unlike last year, where Wells carried the load at running back, it’s going to have to be a shared effort this year. Brandon Saine and Dan Herron are going to have to step up and be productive. Nobody expects them to put up the same numbers, but they need to at least be able to give the Buckeyes a running threat and take pressure off Pryor.

If the Buckeyes can address these questions going into the season, the only thing they have to worry about will be the schedule.

The home schedule opens up at home with Navy and then there's the big showdown in Week Two against USC. Pryor needs to put up good numbers here to put his name on the Heisman map. The road schedule is tough with dates in Happy Valley against Penn State and the season finale at the Big House against Michigan.

Look for Pryor to put up big numbers at home with a relatively easy schedule. Get ready to crown Pryor the next Heisman winner from Ohio State.

Why Terrelle Pryor Will Lead the Buckeyes to the BCS Championship

by Michael Periatt
BlockONation contributor



I've been reading all the backlash from that recent Andy Staples article that basically said Pryor was better than Tebow and Bradford. And I have one thing to say...

WHO CARES!!!

Really, we can go back and forth all day and argue until we are blue in the face and still probably change no one's mind.

Why don't we talk about what really matters like oh I don't know, the BCS CHAMPIONSHIP?!

But we'll get back to that in a second.

I went up to the Ohio State Spring game a couple weeks go (along with the rest of Ohio) and just like everyone else, witnessed a vastly improved Terrelle Pryor.

His footwork, mechanics, and accuracy were all night and day compared to last year and it was really refreshing to see that the OSU coaching staff was doing what they're paid to do.

But then again, how hard can it be to teach a mix between LeBron James, Usain Bolt, and Ben Roethlisberger to do anything that involves athleticism?

It's like teaching Eva Longoria to be gorgeous or George Bush to dance (Oh wait, bad example).

Anyway, it got me thinking about the potential of this team. They are young and somewhat inexperienced, but I think they are overall more talented than the 2007 and 2008 teams and pretty darn close to (if not better than) the 2006 team.

Both the 2006 and 2007 teams made it to the BCS championship and then got utterly embarrassed in front of the entire nation. Their reputation still has not recovered.

Don't get me wrong, both teams were very good, but I think think this team has something they didn't; Terrelle Pryor.

I think Terrelle Pryor is the piece in the puzzle that can put them over the top. In fact, I know it.

TP is so special that I guarantee the Buckeyes will win a BCS Championship.

Notice, I didn't say this year (it could happen), but before he graduates (or declares for the NFL Draft), TP will deliver the Bucks to the promised land.

And here's why...

1. As I was saying before, TP is one of the most naturally gifted athletes in the history of college sports.

Remember, this guy was a top basketball recruit, too.

But it's crazy to watch what Pryor did last year without really having the ability to consistently throw the ball. At times (especially when Beanie was out), Pryor was OSU's only offense.

He was getting by guys not because he was the most polished and skilled player, but because he was the most athletic.

I remember one play against Michigan State last year in particular. It was a PA fake roll out to the right. Right when Pryor turned from the PA fake, an unblocked DE was right in his face.

Pryor's raw athleticism took over as he brought the ball back like he was going to throw, jabbed forward leaving the defender in his dust, ran toward the sideline, and threw the ball across his body to Brian Robiskie in the end zone.

No one else in the entire nation could have made that play. And that's what makes him so great. He has the ability to do things no one else can.

2. Have you ever heard Pryor talk?

The guy expects perfection.

Pryor lost two games as a starter last season. After the Penn State loss (in which his fourth quarter fumble lead the games only score and interception ended the game) Pryor said,

"When you turn over the ball two times in a game, everyone can say that it's not my fault, but if you really look at it, it is."

Later when talking about the interception he said,

"I should have known not to throw the ball there. I should have known to throw somewhere else. I mean, that's the game. I feel it's on me."

I like seeing a guy take responsibility for his mistakes. That shows character and maturity. It shows he's ready to handle the pressure that comes with being a top flight athlete.

My favorite TP quote, however came right after the the Fiesta Bowl loss to the Texas Longhorns. He said,

"We got to get better. We got to improve. Next year, we got to throw points up on the board. Point blank. Period."

Minutes after a heart breaking loss and the end to the longest football season of his life, Pryor was already thinking about next year and getting better.

This kid expects to win and has the motivation and the work ethic to accomplish just that. Mentally, TP is wired to win.

Point blank period.

3. There have been super athletic players in college before, but not all of them won it all.

Why?

Because they didn't have the supporting cast. But the Buckeyes have proven year in and year out that they bring in quality players that can win games.

Pryor will have a supporting cast and they're going to be pretty darn good. OSU is bringing in top ten recruiting classes year after year. They have the talent to build a great team around TP. Pryor will be what makes the ultimate difference, but his talented group of teammates will be right there with him.

Also, Pryor plays QB. No position has more of an impact in football. Great athletes at RB and WR can only make so much of an impact because they can only get so many touches.

But at QB, Pryor has the ball in his hands every play ready to change the game.

The Ohio State nation has gone through some tough times as of late. They're seen as a slightly above average team in a below average conference.

But Terrelle Pryor is going to change all that. He's going to EARN the respect back.

So sit back and enjoy—I know I will!

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Ohio State Super-Sophomore Terrelle Pryor Eyes the Prize

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford became just the second sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy this past season.

Florida's Tim Tebow was the first.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has a great chance of becoming the third.

It's obvious Pryor is a Heisman Trophy candidate for the 2009 season. How high or how low he will be in the voting will depend on several factors.

Pryor, who became the starter last season after the Buckeyes were blown out by USC, has shown flashes of how good he can become. He has the speed. He has the moxie. He may need to work on his accuracy, but he can and has improved by leaps and bounds on that already this offseason.

Since Beanie Wells is gone on to the NFL, the Buckeyes offense will center around and flow through Pryor.

That means coach Jim Tressel will call plays that will showcase Pryor's running and passing skills. OSU does have two solid running backs in Boom Herron and Brandon Saine, but Pryor is still the catalyst and will run the ball.

OSU will try to lean more to a passing attack, primarily because of the progression throwing the ball Pryor has shown, specifically in the Sprig game, and because of the depth and speed at the wide receiver position (Ray Small, DeVier Posey, Lamaar Thomas, Taurian Washington, etc.), giving Pryor even more opportunity to shine.

He showed his athletic and versatile abilities in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl against Texas, nearly leading OSU to the upset win. I can absolutely see him as a better passer this coming season, which will make him even more dangerous and difficult for defenses to game plan for him.

It doesn't hurt that he’s got a huge game with USC in week two. A win and impressive stats will go a long way in further establishing his Heisman candidacy.

With all of this said, all Pryor really has to do is perform close to his potential (that's how high it is) and he'll be clearing some space for his latest trophy.






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