Ohio State Football: Terrelle Pryor is Not a Wide Receiver and Never Will Be

Sadly for the Ohio State fans, this may be the only time that Terrelle Pryor will catch a pass from another quarterback.

After the Fiesta Bowl, many fans of Buckeye Nation want Pryor to be moved to WR instead of playing QB. This will never happen, simply because there is no one else to throw to him.

The difference in the game was Todd Boeckman, which allowed Pryor to be used as a WR, because of Boeckman's proven ability to throw. But he is gone, and Pryor is the clear-cut starter.

He is the only guy with legitimate QB experience on the roster, and is the team's best playmaker. So why put him in a position where he would have the ball only about 30-40 percent of the time? You don't.

Pryor came to Ohio State to become an NFL QB, to learn the tools to be a better thrower. Granted OSU isn't exactly Quarterback U, but Tressel has had success in turning a running QB into a great thrower, aka Troy Smith.

Give Pryor a year, and anyone wearing scarlet and gray will all agree that he will become a much improved passer than from this year. Although, admittedly, it would be fun to see him go out wide once or twice a game.

But the problem with the question of position change is something OSU isn't so used to: a logjam at WR. With the Brians (Hartline & Robiskie) heading to the NFL, suddenly the positions are wide open.

Including the WRs that are coming to tOSU from the '09 class, the Buckeyes will have almost a dozen players for 4-5 consistent positions on the depth chart. Not to mention HS All-American WR Marlon Brown (though somewhat unlikely at this point) may join the race for playing time.

Why would the coaches put Pryor in that position to compete with so many other players? Simply put, there's only one ball, and 12 guys cannot have it at once.

And, if Pryor is put at WR, who is going to throw the ball to them?

Sarcasm aside, the best thing for the Buckeyes is Pryor's play-making ability. It opens up the field for the RBs and WRs to get into space.

Take that away and insert a pocket passer, and things suddenly get trickier. Running the offense is a little more challenging, as the QB must make perfect throws in the face of blitzes.

The short history of the Vest with regards to the QB position is the almost-necessity for a running QB to run the offense. And personally, Joe Bauserman can be a good QB, but no one will mistake him for a Steve McNair or Vince Young.

Hopefully, the woes of the offensive line which forced Pryor on occasion to run for his life at times are gone.

In come the more athletic type, slimmer and faster, more adept to the game.

Out are the slower lineman who can't handle a speed rusher to save their life (predominantly Alex Boone).

Times in college football change very rapidly, in an era where speed and flare sometimes mean more than physicality and execution. So as a coach, the mantra of this era has been to get your playmakers involved in the game as much as possible.

For some, it's a fast QB, such as a Young or Pryor. Others, a dynamic special teamer or receiver, like Jeremy Maclin or Percy Harvin.

Regardless, modern college football requires skilled playmakers on the field continuously, although an offense has only five skill players to put on the field at a time.

As for the Buckeyes, putting Pryor on the outside or in the slot jeopardizes the ability to properly utilize the playmakers.

Simple solution: put Pryor in the best possible spot, under center or in the shotgun.

Pryor has already (hopefully) had his growing pains in college football last year and this year will emerge as one of the best players in the nation and a future Heisman Trophy candidate. However, it won't be as a receiver.

At least, not full time.