NFL Draft 2011: How The Terrelle Pryor Situation at Ohio State Affects The Draft

Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor announced last month that he would be returning for his senior season with the Buckeyes football program.

However, after recent news that he and some other teammates had been caught selling awards for profit, one has to wonder about Pryor's future with the program.

Pryor and four other Buckeyes were suspended for the first five games of 2011 on December 23.

Certainly these findings must affect Pryor's future with the program as well as with the NFL Draft this April.

Pryor is a talented quarterback with both size and speed for the next level. Pryor is similar to Auburn's Cam Newton in stature—he stands 6'6" and just over 230 pounds.

But is he ready?

Obviously no one knows for sure, but you can bet there is a desperate NFL team out there somewhere who would jump at the opportunity to select Pryor as their franchise guy.

Ohio State's recent success, an 11-1 season in 2010, might be enough to keep Pryor focused on his senior season with the Buckeyes, as well as the potential to build his draft stock with another season in college.

However, now that we know he will miss at least the first five games of his senior season, does that change anything?

It has to. It's hard to believe that Pryor could compete for the Heisman with just seven games under his belt, considering he would be coming back during the Buckeyes' conference schedule.

He wouldn't have an opportunity to pad his stats against Ohio State's weak non-conference schedule in September. 

Either way Pryor decides to go, there is definitely a future in the NFL awaiting him. The question becomes, does he run from the current situation at Ohio State and collect some green from an NFL franchise?

Or does he finish what he started in Columbus and return for his last seven games as a Buckeye in the hopes of winning a title, snagging a Heisman Trophy and boosting his draft stock, all while staying healthy?

The answer awaits.

Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.