You have to shop for the groceries before you can cook the meal at Ohio State. The type of groceries purchased will have a direct correlation with what kind of feast you enjoy at the table.
The groceries — or recruits — will go a long way towards one heck of a college football smorgasbord season if done and developed correctly. But some of those prospects are hyped up more than others. Sometimes they pan out, other times they don’t quite live up to the expectations heaped upon them.
We’ve seen plenty of gourmet seasons in Columbus, but what college football recruit that ultimately signed with Ohio State was the most hyped in the history of the program? ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren has his opinion on the matter and he’s published a piece (subscription required) that looks at the most-hyped recruit for every one of the worldwide leader’s preseason college football top 25.
Next … Who VanHaaren identified for Ohio State
Quarterback Terrelle Pryor, Class of 2008
What VanHaaren said
“Pryor was the fourth-ranked prospect overall and was a legitimate basketball recruit as well. He was a dual-threat quarterback, and at 6-foot-6, 227 pounds, he was highly sought-after, to say the least.”
“Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and West Virginia were all in the mix, and Pryor’s recruitment was closely watched down to the wire. He dragged out his decision beyond signing day and into March, when he ultimately chose Ohio State in a much-anticipated announcement. Pryor was hyped as a game-changing quarterback, and some still believe he could’ve changed Rich Rodriguez’s tenure at Michigan had he chosen the Wolverines.”
“Pryor was 31-4 as a starter for Ohio State and passed for 6,177 yards while rushing for 2,164 yards. He was suspended for the first five games of his final season after accepting improper benefits and decided to forgo that final season to enter the NFL supplemental draft.”
It’s a shame we didn’t get to see Pryor reach the full potential of what many thought he would be. His ability to throw the ball was never a strong suit, but he was big, athletic, and fast. He was a game-changer on the ground and many thought Ohio State would win a national title with him under center.
It didn’t happen, but his recruitment was a hotly followed one with a lot of buzz and hype for sure.
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