Ohio State Football: 5 Reasons Why Terrelle Pryor Is a Heisman Candidate

It may be a crazy sentiment to ponder, but Terrelle Pryor should get consideration for the Heisman Trophy in 2011.

Even though he is coming off major foot surgery and will be suspended the first five games of the 2011 season, there is no reason that he can't do enough in the rest of the season to stake a claim to college football's best individual award.

And while we don't yet know the fate of Jim Tressel, whether or not he will be allowed to stay at Ohio State, we know Pryor will be back October 8 at Nebraska pending his rehab.

But the senior QB should still be involved in the Heisman discussion, and here are five reasons why.

5. Heismans Are Not Won in September

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Denard Robinson #16 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

The reality of the Heisman Trophy race is that you can't win it in the first month of the season.

If that happened, Denard Robinson would have won in a landslide, and Cam Newton might not have gotten a single vote.

And for Pryor's sake, it wouldn't matter what he did against Akron, Toledo or Colorado unless he was playing poorly.

He might have lower stats compared to the other competitors, but his averages by the end of the season could be right up with the best if not better.

4. A Chance To Improve NFL Draft Stock

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Cam Newton participates in the vertical jump during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

How Terrelle Pryor projects to the NFL may be the most complicated and divisive discussion between fans and scouts this season.

But given his circumstances, he will have his chance to show the world that he can be more than just a running QB that can throw.

He has improved his throwing numbers dramatically in 2010 from his previous two seasons and recorded his first 300-yard passing game.

If he can continue to improve his passing efficiency and TDs while decreasing his poor decisions, he has a chance to be the guy holding up the trophy in the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City.

3. Improving from His Strong Sugar Bowl Performance

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates the Buckeyes 31-26 victory against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Pho

In the Sugar Bowl, Pryor continued to build on his rep of playing big in big games, totaling 336 yards of offense and two TDs in leading the Buckeyes to the 31-26 win over Arkansas.

His progression after last year's Rose Bowl MVP performance was dramatic, and Buckeye fans saw a different QB as a result of his play in that game.

There should be little doubt that he can build off his Sugar Bowl MVP performance and do well in 2011, albeit in a shortened season.

2. Ohio State's Offense Will Be Turned Loose under Pryor

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to hand the ball of to Dan Herron #1 against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sugar Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome on January 4, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

It's fair to say that the Buckeye offense will be mainly conservative in the first five games of the season with Pryor and starters Dan Herron, DeVier Posey and Mike Adams all sidelined.

When all four come back October 8, the offense should get back to the form it had most of 2010 if not more explosive.

The experience of these four players, especially Pryor, means that this offense can get to the next level in 2011 as long as the coaches let them loose like last season.

If they do, Pryor and the Buckeyes can put up big numbers once again, including averaging just under 450 yards per game and ranking No. 11 in points per game at 38.8.

That type of ability will be reflected with an uptick in offensive numbers once the Suspended Five return. 

1. He Will Have an "Us against the World" Mentality All Season

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 04: (M) Quarterback Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes is helped off the field by teammates Etienne Sabino #6 and Andrew Sweat #42 after the Buckeyes 31-26 victory against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the Allstate Su

If the Sugar Bowl win taught us anything, it's that Ohio State has been able to handle major adversity with a strong bond of brotherhood and courage.

The energy they showed all game, even when several players went out with cramps and other injuries, was phenomenal and instrumental to the Buckeyes ending their bowl losing streak to the SEC.

Whether or not they can maintain that energy and bottle it for an entire season is up for debate.

There are some games where they obviously don't need it, such as against Indiana.

But this team plays well with a chip on their shoulder, and if Pryor can silence his critics, he has a shot to win the Heisman.

And although it is tough, he can do it in eight games if he plays spectacular football each night, especially at Nebraska and at home against Wisconsin.

He will need some luck from other contenders having rough weeks, but it's certainly possible for Terrelle Pryor to finish his college career by hoisting the Heisman Trophy.

For more college football news and updates, visit The BCS Blitz and follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim.