QB Terrelle Pryor (official thread)

[osugrad21]

DFP

Blue vs. Gray: Tressel and Rodriguez plan to attend Pryor's basketball game

February 1, 2008
There will be two high-profile visitors to Pennsylvania when Jeannette High hosts East Allegheny for a basketball game Saturday.
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel are expected to attend the game to watch the nation's No. 1 football prospect, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, according to Jeannette football coach Ray Reitz.

Pryor's recruitment has intensified lately, as Penn State coach Joe Paterno and Oregon coach Mike Bellotti visited this week. Louisiana State coach Les Miles visited last week. Those schools are in the running for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound QB many compare to Vince Young. The first day a player may sign a letter of intent is Wednesday.

Cont...

[Buckskin86]

Pryor plans to concentrate on football
By Paul Schofield
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, February 1, 2008


VILLANOVA - The Jeannette boys basketball team continues its road show tonight in the PrimeTime Shootout at Villanova University against Class AAAA power Chester.
It probably will mark the beginning of the final days of Pryor's basketball career.

Pryor said Thursday that he's planning to give up his hopes of playing football and basketball in college to concentrate on perfecting his quarterbacking skills.

"I want to be the best college quarterback in the game, so I know that playing basketball isn't in my future," he said after practice yesterday at Jeannette. "I know I have to get stronger, study more films and improve my football techniques if I want to achieve that goal."

Meanwhile, Jeannette basketball coach Jim Nesser became the second coach to indicate that Pryor is leaning toward signing with Ohio State.

Nesser said he believed Pryor hasn't made up his mind, however.

"I think Terrelle likes and trusts (Ohio State coach Jim) Tressel, but that's my opinion," Nesser said. "He'll do well wherever he chooses."

Roy Hall, Pryor's quarterbacks coach at Jeannette, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that "a lot of things are telling me Ohio State. That's my gut feeling."

Pryor plans to focus on football - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Pryor probably has bright future
By Tricia Lafferty
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, February 1, 2008


If recent history is a true indicator, Jeannette's Terrelle Pryor is destined for the NFL, probably as a first-round draft choice.
That may be too much pressure to place upon the shoulders of a high school senior, but consider this: Each of the previous three top-ranked high school players who are in the NFL arrived there as his team's top pick.

Pryor probably has bright future - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

[wadc45]

Thanks to OBJ for the heads up...

QB recruit Pryor's future not set in stone - The Daily Collegian Online

By Travis Johnson
Collegian Staff Writer

JEANNETTE -- Take Route 30 westbound from State College through thick fog and steady rain for 120 miles. Stop half an hour outside Pittsburgh.

Welcome to Jeannette. Population: 10,095 -- plus one phenom.

That phenom is also the town's favorite son and quarterback, but soon he will be someone else's.

At 6-foot-6 and 235-pounds, Terrelle Pryor is the nation's most sought-after football recruit, and with scholarship offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Florida and Penn State on the table, both of the young man's cell phones ring constantly.

Coaches have sat down with him, including Joe Paterno. He has visited Ann Arbor, Mich. Ohio State recruits have made the trip to Jeannette to watch him play basketball -- all attempts to coax the high school senior.

But what will he do? Who will he chose?

Robert Murphy, Jeannette's athletic director, says he gets calls from reporters all over the nation who want to talk to Terrelle. The approach doesn't matter. It has worn the kid out. He's sick of answering questions.

He doesn't know where he's going. He'll decide next week, he says.

Tonight, Terrelle Pryor just wants to play basketball.

Continued...

[Buckskin86]

more from the braintrust in Bristol

Chris, Camden,Mi: Any thoughts on where Terrelle Pryor will eventually sign?

Craig Haubert : Right now I think it is 50-50 that he even announces on signing day. We won't truly know until signing day but it may be smart move, if he is not ready, to not announce on signing day. I think when it is all said and done, it will be a classic OSU-Michigan battle. But if he does commit on signing day I think it will be with Michigan.

ESPN: Chat with Scouts Inc.'s Craig Haubert - SportsNation

[Buckskin86]

Thanks to 'BusNative for the find

As signing day approaches, Pryor mulls options
By Billy Tucker
Scouts Inc.
(Archive)
Updated: February 1, 2008
Terrelle Pryor's decision could be on hold pending a post-signing day visit to Oregon.

Reitz, who also coached in the Under Armour All-American game, said it is very much up in the air at this point, but did say Pryor would be maintaining his commitment to appear live on our national signing day show and either update his recruitment or proclaim his college of choice, neither of which will be made public until he sits down at the microphone.

Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and now Penn State are all very much in the running for the No. 4 overall player in the country. The delayed announcement may stem from Pryor's desire to visit Oregon sometime after signing day. The school has come on strong down the stretch, presumably pitching its explosive spread offense would highlight the dual-threat QB's skills more than any other program. His busy basketball schedule as well as a flurry of attention as of late has really created a difficult situation for this young man.

It should be noted that the current two-sport athlete has not ruled out playing basketball at the next level as well; Jim Tressel and Rich Rodriguez are both supposed to be in attendance at Pryor's basketball game this weekend and presumably hoping to make one last impression by Wednesday.

ESPN - As signing day approaches, Pryor mulls options - Insider

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Chester overpowers Jeannette


By Paul Schofield
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, February 2, 2008

VILLANOVA -- Chester showed Jeannette why it's considered one of the best Class AAAA teams in the state Friday during the third game of the Prime Time Shootout at Villanova University. Chester (20-1) used its quickness to create turnovers and a height advantage to control the boards to run past WPIAL Class AA No. 2 Jeannette (15-4), 80-70. The loss ended Jeannette's 12-game winning streak. Jeannette returns home for a game at 7:30 p.m. today against Section 1-AA rival East Allegheny.

Terrelle Pryor, who led Jeannette with 21 points and nine rebounds

Pickett wasn't the only one impressed with Pryor. Many fans came to get a glimpse of the No. 1 football recruit in the nation, and many wore their school colors. Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan T-shirts were visible in the stands.
Some even chanted: "Go to Penn State. Come to Michigan."
Pryor said he heard the chants, but didn't like them. "I hate when people start yelling where to go," Pryor said. "It doesn't help. I know they're just fans."

[Buckskin86]

Even on Basketball Court, Focus Is on Football Star
By DAVID PICKER
Published: February 2, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. ? Terrelle Pryor was one of the best basketball players on the court Friday night as his team, Jeannette High School of western Pennsylvania, played Chester High School, a six-time defending district champion. In the first quarter, Pryor drew cheers by finishing a breakaway with a thunderous one-handed slam.

About 1,800 fans were there for part of an elite eight-team invitational. But many of them were not interested in Pryor?s nose for the basket. Pryor, who is a senior, also happens to be one of the most highly regarded football recruits in the country.

?I think the best comparison you could make to the last five, six years would probably be Vince Young,? Bob Lichtenfels, a recruiting analyst for Scout.com, said, referring to the Tennessee Titans quarterback who won a national title in college at Texas. ?But, personally, I think he?s going to be better than Vince Young. That?s nothing against Vince. He?s a great player. Terrelle is just a difference maker.?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/sp...f=ncaafootball

Posted on Sat, Feb. 2, 2008


Pryor keeps mum about his football plans
By JOSEPH SANTOLIQUITO

For the Daily News

There was a group of young children with felt-tip pens and programs in their hands, waiting patiently outside the entrance to the locker rooms. A group of grown men, some with odd sorts of memorabilia, waited the back entrance of Villanova's Pavilion.
They were all waiting for Jeannette High School star Terrelle Pryor, considered the country's No. 1 football recruit. Also a basketball star at the suburban Pittsburgh school, Pryor dropped a team-high 21 points in Jeannette's 80-70 loss last night to area power Chester in the Prime Time Shootout at Villanova.

But Pryor was in no mood to talk about football - at least not immediately after the game. His cell-phone voice-mail box is full. He's constantly receiving calls from reporters and Web sites all over the country.

That's what happens when you are the country's most sought-after high school football player. Penn State coach Joe Paterno visited Pryor at Jeannette last week, and Pryor still has the Nittany Lions on his list of schools, along with Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon.

"But it's still 50-50 that I'll make a commitment to a school next Wednesday [Feb. 6]," Pryor said. "I'm really undecided whether or not I'll take the trip to Oregon, but they are still on my list. I'm still not ruling anyone out."

Pryor keeps mum about his football plans | Philadelphia Daily News | 02/02/2008

Does PSU have its Pryor-ities right?
The Nittany Lions have recruited top linebackers but have no QB locked up yet.
By Mark Wogenrich | Of The Morning Call
February 2, 2008

The linebacker class might be the country's best, and line needs were met fairly well. But what about a quarterback, which Penn State coach Joe Paterno said in December was one of his recruiting priorities?

It comes down to Pryor-ities now.

With National Letter of Intent Day approaching on Wednesday, Penn State is moving to complete its class with what recruiting analysts call the ultimate cherry-on-top: Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor, whom two national services rate as the top prospect in the country.

As for the Lions' chances of persuading Pryor to come to Penn State? Slim, two recruiting analysts said, but not out of the question.

''Maybe it's the stubbornness in me, but I don't think they're out of it,'' said Bob Lichtenfels, a regional recruiting manager for Scout.com. ''If he committed to Penn State, it wouldn't surprise me at all.''

Added Mike Farrell, national analyst for Rivals.com, ''Who knows? Pryor could show up Wednesday and say he's going to Penn State and shock the world.''

Does PSU have its Pryor-ities right? -- themorningcall.com

[Buckskin86]

U-M BEWARE: Pryor has a Buckeye connection
February 3, 2008

By VINCE ELLIS
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Terrelle Pryor has established good friendships with several players in Ohio State's Class of 2008.

Buckeyes commitments J.B. Shugarts and Michael Brewster, offensive linemen already enrolled at Ohio State, were spotted at a recent basketball game to watch Pryor.

And Dublin (Ohio) offensive lineman Mike Adams, considered the best offensive lineman in the country, said recently that he and Pryor are "pretty good friends."

He said he talks to him daily on the computer.

"I stopped talking to him about football stuff awhile ago," Adams said. "He's going to go wherever he wants to go. He probably knows the right choice is Ohio State, but we'll see what happens. I have full faith that he'll make the right decision."

Of course, Pryor has family on the Michigan end. Wolverines receiver Toney Clemons is his cousin.

U-M BEWARE: Pryor has a Buckeye connection

SPECIAL RECRUITING REPORT: Wooing of Terrelle Pryor down to wire for U-M, others
February 3, 2008

BY VINCE ELLIS

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

JEANNETTE, Pa. -- The small gym at Central Catholic was packed with fans waiting to see the latest phenom from western Pennsylvania.

He was dressed in a blue-and-red basketball uniform and he was lining up at forward for the Jeannette Jayhawks.

The decision

At one time, Michigan wasn't even on Pryor's radar screen. But then Lloyd Carr retired and Rodriguez was hired from West Virginia.

Pryor immediately started considering Michigan. Ryan Mallett's decision to transfer means the Wolverines are desperately in the market for a quarterback.

"When you consider who's left on the roster and they don't have anyone on the roster who fits Rodriguez's offense, you can't overstate how important Pryor is to Michigan," said Josh Helmholdt, who covers Michigan recruiting for Rivals.com.

But Michigan has major competition. Pryor's position coach, Roy Hall, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that his gut told him Pryor would choose Ohio State. OSU coach Jim Tressel was expected at Pryor's basketball game Saturday night, as was Rodriguez.

And Reitz said Thursday that Pryor could delay making a final college decision because he is considering making visits to Oregon and Penn State.

If everything goes according to plan, CSTV and ESPNU will carry Pryor's announcement live at noon Wednesday. But the situation remains fluid, and seems to change on a daily basis.

"I got an idea where he's going, but I don't want to say nothing right now," Burns said. "It's starting to get down to the wire. Everything is starting to speed up fast."

SPECIAL RECRUITING REPORT: Wooing of Terrelle Pryor down to wire for U-M, others

OSU, Michigan chase QB
Top high school player's decision could hinge on each team's offensive style

By George M. Thomas
Beacon Journal sportswriter


Published on Sunday, Feb 03, 2008

Jeannette, Pa., high school athletic phenom Terrelle Pryor doesn't sport a red cape or an ''S'' on his chest, but he does know how to draw a crowd.

He's rated the top player at his position by a number of recruiting services, including Rivals and Scouts Inc. He totaled 3,778 yards on offense his senior season: 1,899 yards rushing and 1,899 passing. He accounted for 58 of his team's touchdowns on the way to winning a number of awards in Pennsylvania and on a national level. His team won the state championship.

Ohio.com - OSU, Michigan chase QB

Pryor may make official visit to Penn State
By Philip Cmor, pcmor@altoonamirror.com POSTED: February 3, 2008

According to Terrelle Pryor?s coach, Penn State made progress toward landing the nation?s No. 1 football prospect when it made a visit last week.

The question, with three days left until signing day, is: Will it be enough?

??I think it went well,?? Jeannette coach Ray Reitz said Saturday.

Nittany Lion head coach Joe Paterno went to Jeannette High School with assistant coaches Jay Paterno and Tom Bradley to visit the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Jayhawk quarterback on Wednesday. There, they met with Pryor, his mother, Toni, father, Craig, Pittsburgh Steeler backup quarterback and Pryor?s advisor, Charlie Batch, and Reitz.

Afterward, they took in Pryor?s basketball game against Apollo-Ridge.

Although Pryor has denied publicly leaning toward any college, the general consensus has been that Ohio State leads Michigan for his services, with Penn State and Oregon jockeying for third place. Reitz gave the impression he believed that to be the case, but that Penn State did give Pennsylvania Football News? Mr. Football and The Associated Press Class AA player of the year something to think about.

??I think it?s probably a long shot [for Penn State to land Pryor], but he did say he would like to visit there,?? Reitz said.

Pryor may make official visit to Penn State | Altoona Mirror

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State, Michigan wage battle for Pryor
By Paul Schofield
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 3, 2008


Saturday night's battle wasn't really on the basketball court at Jeannette High School.
Of course, rivals East Allegheny and Jeannette had a game to play.

But the real prize wasn't on the scoreboard.

The real tussle was between Big 10 football powers Ohio State and Michigan, as they battle for the top recruit in the nation -- Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

On one side of the Jeannette gymnasium were Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels and four assistants. In the opposite corner near the Jeannette locker room stood Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and assistant coaches Calvin McGee, Tony Gibson and Fred Jackson. The Michigan staff took a flight into Latrobe and got to the game during the first quarter.

Tressel and his staff had dinner at a restaurant in Jeannette and were in their seats during the junior varsity game.

Rodriguez and Tressel talked at halftime. Both met with Pryor's parents -- Craig and Toni Pryor.

Pryor said he probably won't sign a letter of intent Wednesday, the first day high school recruits can officially sign binding letters of intent. Pryor might make one or two more official visits before making his decision. He has until April 1 to decide.

OSU, Michigan wage battle for Pryor - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

CHARLIE BATCH: Ex-Lions quarterback discusses his friend, Pryor
February 3, 2008

By VINCE ELLIS

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER


Terrelle Pryor has enlisted Steelers quarterback and former Lion Charlie Batch as an adviser. Batch has a connection to Pryor's family: his brother dates Pryor's aunt. Here are Batch's thoughts on the process:

CHARLIE BATCH: Ex-Lions quarterback discusses his friend, Pryor

Recruiters will stop at nothing to land a big-time player
By Tricia Lafferty
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 3, 2008


Smores was the milkshake flavor of choice at the Park Classic Diner in Jeannette.
It was the 26th flavor Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley had tasted since May when he started recruiting in Western Pennsylvania. Next up would be strawberry and then strawberry banana.

"By the time I'm done, I'll have tried all 33 darn milkshakes," Bradley said.

With three days remaining until national letter of intent day, Bradley might get there.

Jeannette has been the destination of choice for some of college football's biggest names. Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the nation's No. 1 recruit, is the main attraction.
Pryor will make his college decision no sooner than Wednesday -- but maybe later, he said -- when he chooses from among Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State, and puts an end to his recruitment, which is the highest profile case in Western Pennsylvania scholastic football history.

Jeannette coach Ray Reitz is understanding of Pryor's indecisiveness and why he sometimes seemed overwhelmed by the process.

"The thing that's scary is there's a lot of people that look to exploit these kids," Reitz said. "That's the sickening thing about it: about trusting people you don't know, what people want down the road. It's just like being a rock star or a movie star. People like you for what you represent, not who you are."

Recruiters push to land a big-time player - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

[wadc45]

Thanks again to 'BusNative...

ESPN - Michigan's immediate future could hinge on Pryor - Insider

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com

Updated: February 3, 2008, 6:12 PM ET

The best player left on the high school football recruiting market is big enough and strong enough to play defensive end. He is fast enough and tall enough to play wide receiver and quick enough and mean enough to play outside linebacker or safety.

But is Terrelle Pryor good enough to play quarterback and be a difference maker as a college freshman?

Coaches from Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State think so. In fact, new Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez might be banking on Pryor running his spread offense to make the team competitive in his first season in Ann Arbor. But at least one recruiting expert believes Pryor isn't ready for that daunting challenge of leading a collegiate offense so quickly.

Continued...

[wadc45]

Scout $

2/3

By Lichtenfels...not sure if he will sign on NLOID as he may still officially visit Oregon and PSU.

[Buckskin86]

No one closely associated with Pryor, of Jeannette, Pa., could be reached for comment. He indicated last week that he might not choose Wednesday, the first day national letters of intent can be signed, and make an official visit to Oregon.

His mind probably was still jumping from what happened Saturday night. Jim Tressel and several members of the Ohio State coaching staff showed up in Jeannette for Pryor's home basketball game. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and several members of his staff were there, too.

"I guess that shows how competitive coaches are getting over him," Mike Adams of Dublin Coffman said.

Adams, an offensive tackle who is rated the third-best overall prospect in the country by ESPN.com, committed to the 2008 OSU class almost 11 months ago. Since then, he has tried to lure others to Columbus and has stayed in touch with Pryor by various means.

They spoke by phone Saturday, Adams said, "but we didn't really talk about anything football related."

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU football: Defensive end ready to choose

Recruiting rumors swirl around Pryor
George M. Thomas
Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
Feb. 4, 2008

Jeannette, Pa., high school athletic phenomenon Terrelle Pryor doesn't sport a red cape or an "S" on his chest, but he does know how to draw a crowd.

He is rated the top player at his position by a number of recruiting services, including Rivals and Scouts Inc.

Recruiting rumors swirl around Pryor

Pryor still up in the air on choice
Top-rated high school quarterback may not do letter of intent on national signing day.

By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer
Monday, February 04, 2008

In a week that usually concludes the year's college football recruiting, Ohio State might not get its climax.

Terrelle Pryor, the superstar quarterback from Jeannette, Pa., said last week that he might not sign a national letter of intent on Wednesday, the first day football players are allowed to do so. The signing period lasts until April 1, and Pryor might take a final visit to Oregon to help him decide between Ohio State and Michigan (and possibly Penn State).

Pryor still up in the air on choice

The future is more than one man
By Scott Bell on 2/4/08

Football recruit Terrelle Pryor is expected to make his widely anticipated collegiate choice on Wednesday. The Jeannette, Pa., native is highly sought after by both Michigan and Ohio State. (Ben Simon/Daily).

The Terrelle Pryor saga finally ends Wednesday.

Well, maybe.

Pryor, the dual-threat quarterback and the nation's No. 1 recruit according to both Rivals.com and Scout.com, is expected make his college decision on National Signing Day, just two days from now.

Reports coming from his hometown of Jeannette, Pa., say that decision may be delayed to allow him to make a last-minute campus visit or two.

The future is more than one man - Football

[Buckskin86]

Monday, February 4, 2008
Pryor insists he hasn't picked a college
The Detroit News
Terrelle Pryor insists he does not know where he plans to play college football.

Pryor, a dual-threat quarterback and the nation's top-rated recruit, told scout.com he still wants to take official visits to Oregon and Penn State, and reiterated he might delay his decision. The first day of the national signing period is Wednesday.

"I like four schools -- Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon and Penn State," Pryor told the Web site. "Everyone thinks they know, but I don't even know what I am doing yet. But there is a good chance this goes past signing day.

"I want to visit Oregon and Penn State. I honestly have not made up my mind yet."

Two early enrollees at Ohio State, Michael Brewster and J.B. Shugarts, also attended one of Pryor's basketball games.

"It was cool that they did that for me," Pryor told scout.com. "It shows they want me there, but I also think it could all just be a part of recruiting. Right now, everyone says everything you want to hear, and they show you everything you want to see, but I'm smarter than that and I am just processing everything right now."

Pryor insists he hasn't picked a college

[osugrad21]

JWins with the find...

Pittsburgh Gazette


Pryor to decide Wednesday

Monday, February 04, 2008
By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Decision day will be at noon Wednesday for Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor, star quarterback at Jeannette High School, said today he is "80 to 90 percent sure" he will announce his choice at a news conference Wednesday. He had been considering pushing back his decision a week or so, and possibly visiting the University of Oregon.
But Pryor said he will not visit Oregon and the Ducks are out of the picture.
"I have to call them today and tell them," Pryor said.
Pryor said he will decide among Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State, although Ohio State and Michigan have been the leaders all along.

Cont...

[BuckNutty]