Ohio State's Terelle Pryor on the Verge of a Breakthrough

Does the Terelle Pryor saga have a bit of déjà vu?  If not, listen again:

A highly touted quarterback at a university rich in football tradition is up and down early in his career, much to the frustration of his rabid fan base.

As his sophomore season winds down, however, the QB starts to put it together. While he loses the chance to play for a national championship, he rebounds and leads his team to the Rose Bowl.

There, in front of a national audience, he leads his team to victory in dazzling fashion, making his team a national title favorite at the outset of the following season.

If this story sounds too good to be true for Buckeye fans, they should be excited to know it has happened before.

The story I told is actually about former Longhorn QB Vince Young, who parlayed a decent sophomore season into an all-time National Championship season as a junior in 2006.

It is amazing, as the Buckeyes play for a spot in the Rose Bowl, to see the similarities in the two QB's. Not only in their college careers, but in their current situations as well.

Both have been lamented at times. Their play has been inconsistent. Yet, both seem to have taken an upturn recently, with their teams being the beneficiaries.

Both have had off-field controversies. Both have been written off. They both share, however, two characteristics that have made them what they are today: patience and incredible physical ability.

The future is looking brighter for both.

In 2006, Young carried over his Rose Bowl win from the previous season into a fantastic National Championship season. Can Pryor keep his positive momentum going?

It is impossible to know what the future has in store for Pryor at this point. Would it surprise you, however, if his play continued to improve and the Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl? (Remember that they will not have to play USC.)

With a win in Pasadena, the Buckeyes would go into 2010 as a Big Ten favorite and National Title contender.

Don't be surprised. We have seen this story before.