Believe the Hype: Terrelle Pryor Is for Real

In just the sixth game of his career, and only his third as the starting quarterback, Terrelle Pryor passed his first major test in college football. Pryor scored the game-winning touchdown on a beautifully executed option run, leading Ohio State past Wisconsin in front of a packed Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday night.

The true freshman, who came to Ohio State as one of the most heralded recruits in recent history, was up to the Badgers' challenge. He made some freshman mistakes throughout the game, taking an 18-yard sack and often holding on to the ball too long when he should have thrown it away or tucked it and run, but Pryor came through when it counted.

Taking the field with just over six minutes to play and trailing by four, the former MVP of the Army All-American game—who draws incessant comparisons to Vince Young—conducted a clutch drive that took nearly five minutes. Pryor flashed the elusiveness, passing skills, speed, and perhaps most importantly, the confidence and poise that made him the most sought-after recruit in the country last year.

Pryor completed all but one of his passes, a drop, on that final drive. He showed the maturity and calmness expected from a sixth-year senior (you’ll have to excuse Todd Boeckman), not a true freshman.

A true freshman should have been rattled and intimidated by one of the most hostile environments in college football with America watching on national television. Not Pryor. This is no ordinary freshman.

Pryor tamed the hard-hitting Badgers defense and sent a clear message to Big Ten foes and the college football world at large: “Here I am. Look out."

Pryor has already amassed nine touchdowns on the year: five through the air and four on the ground. All but one of those has come since he supplanted Todd Boeckman as the starting quarterback. That was only three games ago.

The scary part? He’s only been on campus for a little over two months, and there is much room for improvement. The sky is the limit for college football’s newest star.

Terrelle Pryor is here.