NFL Draft 2011: 10 Reasons Why Terrelle Pryor Should Stay at Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes junior quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who is suspended for the first five games of next season, will likely consider entering the 2011 NFL Draft now that his college football season is over.
Head coach Jim Tressel reportedly made Pryor pledge that he's returning next season, but if he really wants to leave, it isn't far fetched.
And on the heels of his 332-total yard, zero turnover performance in a 31-26 win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl yesterday, Mel Kiper Jr., Todd McShay and the rest of the draft experts might suggest that going pro is the smart move. Many were thinking that even before his impressive performance.
But although it would be tough to sit and watch the Buckeyes play without him, staying in school would be the smart move for Pryor.
Here are 10 reasons why Pryor would be smart to stay at Ohio State and continue to rule the Big Ten.
10. He Hasn't Won It All
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As stated earlier, all five of the suspended Buckeyes are expected to return next season.
And with a fairly young team, the Buckeyes will return the vast majority of their offense (the biggest losses being on the offensive line and WR Dane Sanzenbacher).
Ohio State has yet another strong recruiting class coming in (ranked No. 6), and should at least contend for a national title next year (if it can survive the first five games).
Pryor should stick it out and go for that elusive national championship.
9. He Hasn't Lived Up to The Hype
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Pryor was the top recruit in the nation coming into Columbus, and while he has been one of the better quarterbacks in recent college football annals, he hasn't been otherworldly like most thought.
And trust me, he was a big deal coming out of high school.
Instead of leaving with a merely "good" college career, Pryor could stay and potentially live up to the hype.
8. He Won't Be Treated Like a King Anymore
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Terrelle Pryor gets free tattoos, gets to use loaner cars at his leisure and basically do whatever he wants in Columbus.
But all joking aside, he's the star of one of the best football programs in the nation and is treated like a king.
That won't happen in the NFL.
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7. It's His Last Chance to Play Basketball
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Terrelle Pryor was an outstanding high school basketball player, and probably could help out OSU's squad, even though it is pretty good already.
And apparently he's considered playing for the team.
Staying one more year would give him a chance to play hoops, if Jim Tressel would let him.
6. It Could Be His Last Chance To Play Quarterback
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Pryor might not be a good enough passer in the NFL, which means he potentially will have to switch to a position like tight end or wide receiver.
So next year at OSU could be the last time he gets to play quarterback at a high level.
5. He Can Continue to Embarrass Michigan
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Terrelle Pryor considered going to Michigan before finally picking OSU, killing Michigan fans in the process.
Pryor is already 3-0 against the Buckeyes' heated rivals, and staying another year would make him a Buckeye fan favorite, potentially taking out the Wolverines four times.
4. His Draft Stock Still Isn't High Enough
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Neither Mel Kiper Jr. nor Todd McShay has Pryor as one of the top five quarterbacks in the draft, or really anywhere close to that.
Sure, some team might fall in love with him since he'll almost assuredly light up the combine, but in reality, he's a mid-round pick at best.
And most coaches/scouts/etc. believe that it isn't smart for a player to leave unless he's assured something like a first or second round selection.
That isn't the case for Pryor.
3. He Needs More Time to Develop
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Like I said, Pryor isn't a top-five prospect at quarterback right now, or all that close to one.
But he's improved mightily every year, and with another year of seasoning, maybe he will become draftable as a quarterback.
So as long as he wants to be an NFL QB, he should stay in school.
2. He Can Improve on His Legacy
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Troy Smith is arguably the best Ohio State quarterback ever.
But if Pryor comes back next year, he has a chance to supplant Smith, even with his five game suspension.
He likely won't be able to match Smith's heisman, but with four years of starting, Pryor will at the very least be mentioned along Smith in the discussion of OSU's greatest quarterbacks.
Returning can only help his legacy.
1. He May Not Succeed in The NFL
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If Pryor comes out this year, it isn't all that likely that a team will give him a shot as a quarterback. Even with another year of improvement, the chances still aren't all that great.
And even if he does get a chance, I don't see him ever developing into a starting-caliber signal-caller.
He could potentially become a good wide receiver, but only if he can show that his long stride won't hinder him from running crisp rounds. Oh, and he'll have to show some hands. And an understanding of the position.
All things considered, the smart money is against Terrelle Pryor succeeding in the NFL.
He should stay in school, and succeed while he still can.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.
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