Terrelle Pryor
Template:Infobox CollegeFootballPlayer Terrelle Pryor (born June 20, 1989 in Jeannette, Pennsylvania) is the current starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Considered the most recruited high school football-basketball athlete in southwestern Pennsylvania since Tom Clements[1], Pryor was widely regarded as the nation's top football prospect of 2008, and was named “Junior of the Year” by Rivals.com.[2] Pryor originally hoped to be a two-sport athlete, but he has chosen to focus on football.[3]
High school career
In 2006, Pryor led the Jayhawks to their first WPIAL Championship in over 20 years, and then on to the Pennsylvania PIAA state championship game, where they lost by 1 point to the #1 ranked class AA Warriors of Wilson Area High School. Wilson lost the Pennsylvania (PIAA) state championship the year before.[4] In 2007 Pryor and the Jayhawks repeated as champions of the WPIAL. In the Pennsylvania state semi-finals against Wilmington, Terrelle became the first player in Pennsylvania history to run for 4,000 yards and also throw for 4,000 yards. The following week, Pryor led the Jeannette Jayhawks to their first-ever Pennsylvania (PIAA) state championship by defeating the Dunmore Bucks, 49-21.[5][6] Pryor directed the Jayhawks to score a PA state record 860 points.[7] Pryor's accomplishments included being the two-time Pennsylvania player of the year, the offensive player of the year and the MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[8][9]
Since taking over at Quarterback for the Jeannette Jayhawks in 2005, Terrelle has drawn numerous comparisons to Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young.[10]
College recruiting
Pryor was widely considered the top recruit of the Class of 2008. Throughout his high school career, Pryor acquired numerous scholarship offers that he narrowed down over time, initially committing to the hometown University of Pittsburgh to play basketball under Jamie Dixon. However, by his senior year, Pryor's top interests were Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, and Oregon. Sports Illustrated called Pryor's announcement "the most anticipated in history."[11]
In December 2007, following Rich Rodriguez's departure from West Virginia University to the University of Michigan, Pryor announced an interest in attending Michigan.
Pryor originally intended to announce his decision on February 6, National Signing Day, but later changed his mind, stating he still had not decided between Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State.[12][13]
Following the Jeannette basketball team's state championship victory on March 15, Pryor stated he would decide within a week of what school to attend.[14]
On March 19, 2008 Pryor announced at a press conference that he would attend "the University of Ohio State".[15]
College career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Terrelle-Pryor-Teammates-2008Minnesota.jpg/220px-Terrelle-Pryor-Teammates-2008Minnesota.jpg)
Pryor currently starts at quarterback for Ohio State, while sometimes sharing playing time with senior Todd Boeckman. Pryor saw limited action in the Buckeye's season opener against Youngstown State. He took more snaps against USC on September 13th, 2008, completing 7 of 9 passes for 59 yards, as well as rushing for 59 yards. On September 20th, 2008, Pryor threw for four touchdowns (an Ohio State record for a freshman) and one interception in his first career start for Ohio State. Ohio State beat Troy 28-10. On October 4, 2008, Pryor ran for the winning touchdown against Wisconsin on an option play with running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. On October 25, 2008 against Penn State Pryor threw for a career high 226 yards, connecting on 16 of 25 passes.[citation needed] Against Illinois on November 15, 2008, Pryor had his first career 100 yard rushing day running for 110 yards and a touchdown. In the Fiesta Bowl he lined up at receiver and caught his first touchdown pass in college. Pryor led Ohio State to a 8-1 record as a starter in his freshman year his only loss as a starter was against Penn State.
Awards and honors
- 2007 Hall Trophy (U.S. Army Player of the Year)[16]
- 2007 PARADE National Player of the Year and All-American[17]
- 2008 Pete Dawkins Trophy (U.S. Army All-American Bowl MVP)
- 2008 U.S. Army All-American MVP
- 2008 Big Ten Freshman of the Year[18]
- 2008 Big Ten Honorable Mention[18]
Statistics
Ohio State
2008
Game | Result | Comp. | Att. | Yards | Comp. % | Long | TD | Int | Rating | Att. | Yards | Avg. | Long | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Youngstown St. | W, 43-0 | 4 | 6 | 35 | 66.7% | 14 | 0 | 0 | 115.66 | 9 | 52 | 5.8 | 21 | 1 |
Ohio | W, 26-14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 23 | 0 |
@ USC | L, 35-3 | 7 | 9 | 52 | 77.8% | 15 | 0 | 0 | 126.31 | 11 | 40 | 3.6 | 13 | 0 |
Troy | W, 28-10 | 10 | 16 | 139 | 62.5% | 39 | 4 | 1 | 205.48 | 14 | 66 | 4.7 | 18 | 0 |
Minnesota | W, 34-21 | 8 | 13 | 70 | 61.5% | 22 | 1 | 0 | 132.16 | 8 | 97 | 12.1 | 38 | 2 |
@ Wisconsin | W, 20-17 | 13 | 19 | 144 | 68.4% | 27 | 0 | 1 | 121.56 | 15 | 20 | 1.3 | 11 | 1 |
Purdue | W, 16-3 | 10 | 14 | 97 | 71.4% | 22 | 0 | 0 | 129.63 | 14 | 27 | 1.9 | 22 | 0 |
@ Michigan St. | W, 45-7 | 7 | 11 | 116 | 63.6% | 56 | 1 | 0 | 182.21 | 12 | 72 | 6.0 | 32 | 1 |
Penn St. | L, 13-6 | 16 | 25 | 226 | 64.0% | 53 | 0 | 1 | 131.94 | 9 | 6 | 0.7 | 9 | 0 |
@ Northwestern | W, 45-10 | 9 | 14 | 197 | 64.3% | 46 | 3 | 0 | 253.20 | 6 | 33 | 5.5 | 21 | 0 |
@ Illinois | W, 30-20 | 6 | 10 | 49 | 60.0% | 20 | 1 | 0 | 134.16 | 13 | 110 | 8.5 | 35 | 1 |
Michigan | W, 42-7 | 5 | 13 | 120 | 38.5 | 53 | 2 | 1 | 153.39 | 8 | -7 | -0.9 | 8 | 0 |
References
- ^ White, Mike (2007-08-29). "Jeannette High School's two-sport superstar Terrelle Pryor". post-gazette. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
- ^ Shurburtt. "Rivals.com Junior All-American". Retrieved 2008-04-16.
- ^ Halley, Jim. "The 2007 All-USA players". Retrieved 2008-04-17.
- ^ "PennLive.com: State High School Football Rankings". Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ Piaa.org2
- ^ "PIAA Class AA Championship: Pryor leaves his final imprint on high school football in Pennsylvania". Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ "Top football teams pour on scoring". Retrieved 2008-04-23.
- ^ "The 2007 All-USA players, coach of the year". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ "Pennsylvania's Pryor is MVP of All-American Bowl". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ Farrell, Mike. "Top QB of '08 drawing comparisons to Vince Young". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ "Pryor announcement to be most anticipated in history". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ "Jeannette's Pryor won't sign today". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ Farrell, Mike (2008-02-18). "Pryor still likes four, moves toward decision". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ "Final two: Pryor to announce on Wednesday". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ Farrell, Mike (2008-03-19). "Pryor picks Ohio State". Retrieved 2008-04-27.
- ^ Lafferty, Tricia (2008-01-5). "Jeannette's Pryor named U.S. Army Player of the Year". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
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(help) - ^ "Meet PARADE's All-America High School Football Team".
- ^ a b "Big Ten Announces 2008 Football All-Conference Teams And Individual Honors".