Pryor: More Than Meets the (Buck)Eye

Hype.

It's the one word that is probably most affiliated with Ohio State's star quarterback, junior Terrelle Pryor. But perhaps that is inevitable since Pryor arrived at the perennial powerhouse in Columbus as the consensus No.1 rated high school player in the country in 2008. His decision of where he planned to play football was called "the most anticipated in history" according to Sports Illustrated. LeBron James may have taken over that title with his recent decision, but it's Pryor's talents that have been consistently evolving ever since.

As a freshman, the 6'6", 233-pound Pryor simply thought he could rely on what got him all the hype to begin with — his raw and unparalleled athleticism. In high school at Jeannette (PA), he became the first player in Pennsylvania history to run for 4,000 yards and also throw for 4,000 yards, leading his team to a state championship in 2007. Simultaneously, he was considered a top-25 basketball prospect by most recruiting analysts.

I highly recommend a visit to YouTube to appreciate the type of freakish ability this guy had on the hardwood and the gridiron in high school. It's jaw-dropping footage inducing the "did he just do what I think he did?" response. Pryor's versatility as a dual-threat quarterback immediately brought on comparisons to Vince Young and Michael Vick. And just like that, the stage was set for Pryor to demonstrate he could be one of the top quarterbacks in the nation at Ohio State.

However, despite enjoying some success as a freshmen, including becoming only the second (Art Schlichter) true freshman to start a game at quarterback for the Buckeyes, Pryor was far from a finished product. With poor decision-making at times, and a bout with the turnover bug, coach Jim Tressel gave senior Todd Boeckman the start against Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. Even Pryor, at the end of his first year, described himself as a "running quarterback" with aspirations of becoming a "quarterback that could run."

Moreover, he wasn't winning over anyone in the locker room, either. Safety Tyler Moeller was recently quoted as saying, "When he first got here, I don't think too many people liked him, really. He was kind of a punk." Ouch. Not exactly a ringing endorsement by the upperclassmen.

Surrounded by expectations, lacking maturity, and the support of his teammates, doubters questioned Pryor's fit with the team.

Was the hype getting to Pryor? Could he provide more than just his God-given talent and become the real leader of Ohio State?

In 2009, Pryor took another step in his evolution and answered the critics. He led the Buckeyes to the Big Ten Title, passing for 2,094 yards and 18 TDs, while also leading the Buckeyes in rushing with 779 yards. What's more, he bounced back from an atrocious performance against Purdue earlier in the year to win the Rose Bowl against a highly-touted Oregon team. In that game, Pryor earned Rose Bowl MVP honors and gave us a glimpse of what he is capable of with 72 yards rushing and 23-of-37 passing for 266 yards and 2 TDs. His best game of the season.

With all the success of 2009 came, you guessed it — more hype. Not just for Pryor this time, but for his entire team. The 2010 Buckeyes entered their contest against Miami ranked No. 2 in the country, with national championship chatter buzzing across the college football scene.

Regardless of the talk coming from the media, Pryor seems more poised than ever to handle all the expectations. No longer relying purely on his legs to escape trouble in the pocket, the Heisman Trophy candidate has improved his throwing motion by coming over the top more. Additionally, his hard work this offseason demonstrated to his teammates that he has matured and become a true leader. Tyler Moeller reiterated this by declaring, "Now I have the utmost respect for him. He's a great player and a great leader and I'd follow him into battle any day."

Pryor has the respect of his teammates and the mentality of a champion. He wasn't just content with what he was given or what people told him he could be. He went out and put the sweat in to get the results he wanted. For that, you have to admire the guy. You also have to wonder if there will be a couple of new words more closely associated with Pryor by the end of this season: Heisman winner.