Terrelle Pryor Leaving Could Be a Sign of Harsh Penalties Coming

Only days after his coach Jim Tressel left Ohio State University, star quarterback Terrelle Pryor has decided that he will not return to Ohio State for his senior year.

According to an article by The Dispatch, confirmed by ESPN, Pryor's lawyer has announced that the controversial quarterback will not enroll at Ohio State for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Pryor was to be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 football season for "improper benefits" that he received when he and other teammates exchanged autographs and equipment for tattoos.

According to an Interview on ESPN, Joe Schad suggested that Pryor's options include transferring to a lower division school, playing in the Canadian Football league, or entering the NFL Supplemental Draft.

For many football fans the decision came somewhat abruptly.

There haven't been any "new developments" (within the last few days) in the Ohio State scandal and Pryor had already known about the five game suspension that awaited him at the beginning of the 2011 season.

So why did he leave?

Well that remains a mystery, but some speculate that Pryor leaving could be a sign that the Buckeyes could looking to avoid program-crippling sanctions.

The University appeared to push coach Jim Tressel out only a week ago and in light of the extra negative attention Pryor brought to Ohio State through the car scandal among other things, Pryor may have been feeling that same pressure.

It will be interesting to see if Pryor's departure will help mitigate the severity of the potential NCAA sanctions. 

For now, the Buckeyes will have to look toward next season without their former No. 1 recruit, Rose Bowl MVP, and Team MVP.