Photo: Scott Stuart
Yesterday, former Buckeye quarterback and All-Everything high school star, Terrelle Pryor signed a four-year deal with the Oakland Raiders. Just three days after being picked in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft. Pryor will practice with the team and possibly play (but not expected) in its exhibition finale. He’ll then begin serving a 5-game suspension to match the number of games he would have sat out had he returned to Ohio State.
Understandably, there has been a bit of talk around the pick and quick signing. Questions such as “Is Pryor’s potential worth the third round pick it cost to draft him?” and “Is the character that got Jim Tressel fired fixable?” have been asked. The answer to both: Hell yeah.
This 6-foot-5, 232 pound, 31-inch vertical, 4.36 40 superior physical specimen will deliver plays, points and yards for the Raiders. No matter where they play him. Be it quarterback, wide receiver or tight end, it won’t matter. The facts are the facts. Last season at Ohio State, against real competition, Pryor threw for 2,772 yards and 27 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. For a kid in a program that runs first, second and third Pryor was pretty damn good. He also plowed his way to 754 yards with 4 TDs and had a handful of receptions along the way. Not many third-rounders offer such a buffet of delights.
In terms of his character, what did the kid really do? He sold earned property for tattoos and some cash? Dumb? Sure. Violation of NCAA’s ass-backward rules? Yeah. But now that he’s a pro and has got money in the bank, he’s free to tattoo every inch of his Superman body and sell his game day underwear if he so desires.
Look, Terrelle Pryor is a 22 year-old kid. A kid that made a mistake. If I had a dime for every mistake I’ve made, I’d have Terrelle Pryor kind of money. Coach Jackson is going to teach him how to improve, both on the field and off. When in Cincinnati, Jackson molded Ochocinco and I think he’s done o.k for himself.
The kid simply has better skills than fellow Buckeye Rickey Dudley. He doesn’t smoke as much weed as Todd Marinovich, that would be impossible. And he certainly frequents the gym more than Jamarcus Russell. Smart move Raiders, the kid’s going to kick some serious ass.
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I must admit, I was one that didn’t want to see him in the supplemental draft. Figured, do the crime, do the time. Anyway, like you said, we all make mistakes. Your article really turned my opinion around about him. I hope he capitalizes on his second chance, as he got all the physical tools as you stated. I don’t know quite how he fits in with the Raiders plans after, in my opinion, they wasted a first round pick, and possibly two on a bust from Cincinnati, who used to do this and that. Anyway, I hope Carson Palmer may be the segway to Terrelle Pryor’s tenure as da Raiders QB. (And ditto what gok-kasten said!)
Your absolutely right but Buckeye Nation has run out of aneitpce after being nationally humiliated six straight times. Tressels program in player selection as well as game management have now come under increasing scrutiny and we have seen him buckle for the first time. That is promising and a reason to look forward to more changes that can only help the program. Lets hope this all helps Pryor find himself before he’s benched.