Terrelle Pryor is one of the most hyped recruits in the history of college football. So here is what will happen to Pryor this season.
First let me tell you a little about Pryor. The #1 recruit in the country a 5* QB, and one of the best athlete's in the country. Pryor is 6-6 235, QB with great skills. His passing technique is flawed (at least people say), but that is fixable, and I feel that it is fine. He is a great scrambler with crazy elusiveness, and speed, not to mention ability to elude pass rushers. He has a big arm, and solid accuracy and touch, so his form does not seem to affect that part of his game. He is not the best passing QB, but a good one, and the best scrambler for a QB in the nation. Pryor led his High School to a state title in both basketball in football, and is a top 50 prospect in Basketball as well. His senior year Pryor was unstoppable, throwing for 1,790 yards and running for 1,901. He accounted for 60 TD's, rushing for 36 and throwing for 23. On defense he had 8 sacks and 4 picks. In his career Pryor had over 4,000 yards both rushing, and passing, and he recorded well over 100 TD's in his high school career.
Now lets look at players who were of similar hype levels to Pryor at QB, who were expected to contribute as a Frosh. Last year Jimmy Clausen, the #1 prospect in the nation, and a player expected to play as a Frosh ended up starting 9 games, and his final numbers were 1254 yards passing, 7 TD's 6 picks, and 56.3% completion. Clausen ended up playing a lot, but was expected to play that much prior to the season, so it was not a big surprise. A more similar QB (though still not very close) is Tyrod Taylor. Taylor was not expected to play, behind a QB in Sean Glennon who had played to mixed reviews, but led his team to a conference title. Taylor ended up splitting time with Glennon. He ended up throwing for 927 yards, and 5 TD's against 3 picks, and running for 429 yards and 6 TD's. Also that year Ryan Mallet played significant time at Michigan, and should start in his new role at Arkansas next year. So the top 3 rated QB's all played significant time as Freshman. 2 years ago Matt Stafford was a top 10 prospect, who is also very mobile, and a great pocket passer. Stafford was expected to compete for the starting job, but no one expected him to actually win. After an injury to Joe Cox, Stafford took over and you guessed it played significant time recording over 2,000 total yards, and 10 TD's against 13 picks. Mitch Mustain was another highly rated QB, who was expected to compete, but not start. Mustain ended up playing significant time, throwing for 894 yards, and 9 TD's carrying Arkansas to 8-0 record when he started, though he did throw 10 picks. Next is a player who is very similar to Pryor, Tim Tebow. Tebow was also expected to contribute and played a change of pace role to the incumbent Chris Leak getting significant playing time, as well. He ended up with 828 total yards, and 13 TD's against only 1 pick. So each of the top 3 QB's 2 years ago also all played significant time as well. The player Pryor is most compared to is Vince Young, who redshirted as a Frosh.
Pryor is behind Todd Boeckman, who I believe can lead this team to success, and is among the op QB's in the Big Ten (though it seems am among the minority). Boeckman threw 25 TD's against only 14 picks last year and was first team all-Big Ten. Antonio Henton and Rob Schoelhoft both transfered during the offseason, so Joe Bauserman and Pryor will battle for the #2 spot at the QB. The job will not be handed to Pryor, Bauserman was very, very good in spring practice, and the spring game, and will compete for the backup job with Pryor. Next year the two should battle for the job, though their is no other QB's for them to compete with.
I expect Pryor not to start this year, or barring injury not start any games for Ohio State. In fact I would go so far to say that if Pryor beats out Boeckman for the starting job, I would consider the season a bit of a disappointment. Pryor is not ready to play, if you look back at the past 2 seasons top3 QB's none seemed to play exceptionally well aside from Tebow and to some extent Tyrod Taylor. Those 2 were the 2 that did split time, and not take the starting job full on. I think that a specific package of 15-30 plays will be set for Pryor, so I expect him to play at least 10 plays a game. I also expect to see Joe Bauserman play some this year, but not as much as Pryor. My projections are Pryor to record around 800 total yards and 8-12 TD's.
Jarah Mariano
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