PITTSBURGH — High school quarterback Terrelle Pryor is headed to Ohio State.
The two-sports star, considered to be one of the nation’s top football recruits, announced his decision Wednesday at Jeannette High School, about 25 miles east of Pittsburgh, where he had one of the greatest prep careers in Pennsylvania history.
Flanked by his parents, brother, sister and other supporters, the 6-foot-6 Pryor wasted no time with his decision: “If everyone’s here,” he said, “University of Ohio State.”
He then unzipped his windbreaker to reveal an Ohio State T-shirt and donned an OSU hat.
Pryor picked Ohio State over Michigan, Penn State and Oregon.
Pryor said Oregon was too far away and Penn State too rural. He said he liked Michigan and new coach Rich Rodriguez, but felt that he has a better shot at making it to the NFL by going to Ohio State.
Pryor called a similar news conference last month, then decided at the last minute not to announce his choice, saying he planned to visit Oregon and, on the advice of his father, Craig, continue considering Penn State. Pryor never visited Oregon and telegraphed Wednesday’s decision by attending a basketball game at Ohio State on Feb. 24, the only campus he is known to have visited since Feb. 6.
Pryor’s trip to Ohio State was not an official visit, but more than 19,000 fans at the basketball game were aware of his presence. The student section chanted “We want Pryor” and “Terr-elle Pry-or” when he was spotted sitting courtside with other recruits.
Ohio State signed 19 players last month and has been holding a 20th scholarship for Pryor, who had one of the best athletic careers in Pennsylvania high school history.
Pryor is the only Pennsylvania player to both rush and pass for at least 4,000 yards in football. He also scored 2,285 points in basketball. For now, Pryor said he does not plan to play basketball in college.
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