Under the Lights and Under Scrutiny: The Terrelle Pryor Saga
This is a story about the dark side of recruiting, a story about an 18-year-old kid making the biggest decision of his life, only it doesnโt really seem like itโs his decision anymore. ย
This is a story about four universities wooing that young player, each trying to lure him to their respective campus.ย Millions of people across the country differ in their opinions of this playerโs situation, though most have never met him.ย This is the story of Terrelle Pryor.
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To say that there arenโt many athletes possessing Pryorโs natural gifts is an understatement. ย
He is a top-30 caliber player nationally in both football and basketball, and can race down both surfaces with a 4.4 second 40-yard dash.ย Football coaches have projected him at any number of positions, from wide receiver to offensive tight end to virtually every skill position on defense.
The Jeannette, PA nativeโs skill set is so rare that it is debated whether he would be better suited to play safety, given his ability to cover so much ground, or defensive end, given his huge frame.ย Pryor decided long ago, however, that he would play quarterback in college, leading to a feeding frenzy among programs likening him to Vince Young. ย
Now, over a year since he was named Rivals.com National Junior of the Year and a week since National Signing Day, Pryor remains unsigned, still deciding between four of those teams: Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and Oregon.
While he has until early April to make a final decision, the spotlight intensifies with each passing day, and what was once The Terrelle Pryor recruitment is now The Terrelle Pryor Saga.ย He is now portrayed as a prima donna, just another punk kid soaking up way more than his allotted 15 minutes and milking the limelight for all itโs worth.
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Of course, the naysayers donโt actually know Terrelle Pryor.ย Most donโt realize that the decision making process is complicated for this recruit as he, unlike most prospects, has not had the time to make his five allotted official visits.ย The day after he took his high school football team to a state title, he jumped right into basketball season. ย
It seems no one understands the pressure he is under. ย
As the last fish left in the 2008 recruiting class pond, Pryor is bombarded ever more heavily with pitches.ย
Jim Tressel and Rich Rodriguez are stalking him at basketball games and Joe Paternoโs Penn State staff has virtually set up shop in his living room.ย The young player has literally nowhere to run and only constant attention to face.
Making matters worse for Terrelle Pryor is, well, Terrelle Pryor.ย As his high school coach, Ray Reitz, said, โTerrelle could run for governorโฆhe doesnโt like to tell people โNo.โโ
Indeed, how could he?ย With four great schools offering him the chance of a lifetime and investing a year of effort convincing him to choose their outfit, it isnโt exactly easy for a kid three months shy of his high school diploma to tell all but one of them, โThanks, but no thanks.โ
Bu if Terrelle Pryor is having trouble making a decision, it seems there are millions of people whoโd love to make it for him.ย Peruse any internet message board and youโll find posts by the hundred all about where he should go and why. ย
Worse yet, these pale in comparison to the posts that argue where he shouldnโt go, or the posts accusing him of accepting gifts from someoneโs program.ย Already Michigan fans have accused Ohio State of paying for Pryorโs signature via local businessman Ted Sarniak. ย
And even Pryorโs father has made no secret about where his loyalties lie; Craig Pryor wants his son to go to Penn State.
Suddenly, the ball seems not lie in the quarterbackโs hands after all.ย Pryor has admitted that he will be visiting Happy Valley mostly to appease his father.
While itโs Terrelle Pryor whoโll be stepping foot on a college campus next year, there is no shortage of expectations that will accompany him on the journey.
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Want to know the truth?ย In all likelihood, Terrelle doesnโt even know for sure where heโd like to sign, or when heโll make the final decision.ย But that hasnโt stopped a whole nation from guessing, from badgering, cajoling, conjecturing, from interfering in any number of ways.
Although Pryorโs decision to continue his recruitment is unusual, this story is not.ย Every year college football fans spend an inordinate amount of time trying to persuade high school kids where they should spend the next four years of their lives, where they should get their educations, where they should call their homes.
The entire process is a monster of our own creation.
As USC mega-freshman Joe McKnight lamented while to trying to make his college choice, โThese people have no right to tell me where to go.โย
But that hasnโt stopped them from trying.
So the next time you hear Terrelle Pryorโs name, try to refrain from judgment.ย Let him take his time and let him make his own decision.ย Most importantly, let him make the decision with his own interests at heart.
This wonโt be the last kid to undergo the excruciating process of recruitment, but that doesnโt mean a nation of strangers should be allowed to influence the most important choice of his life.ย
This is Terrelle Pryorโs story; let him write it.
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