Deehntr56
07-28-2008, 10:04 PM
so here is some information.:biggrin: :biggrin:
Looks like this Kid has his head screwed on pretty good right out of the gate.....and as time goes on...we will see!!!
Ohio State football
Pryor's competitive nature makes him student of game
Sunday, July 27, 2008 3:40 AM
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Despite all his talent, Terrelle Pryor is driven to learn.
CHICAGO -- Let's see what you're made of, rookie, Malcolm Jenkins thought the other day.
Ohio State players were holding an informal seven-on-seven passing drill, and Jenkins, a senior cornerback and world-class trash talker, decided to challenge hotshot freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
"I asked him if he was going to throw me a pick," Jenkins said, breaking into a grin. "And he threw the ball at me every single time. He's not somebody who's going to back down."
Jenkins was only the latest person to experience Pryor's competitiveness, to learn the most important reason why he might make an immediate impact on the Ohio State program in 2008.
The physical abilities are obvious. Pryor is the first player in Pennsylvania high school history to both throw and run for more than 4,000 career yards. He possesses a rare blend of size, speed and strength.
It's why a kid who has yet to play a college game was a hot topic of discussion at the Big Ten preseason meetings this past week.
But when it comes to Pryor, it's not measurables that matter most. It's his attitude. A player who comes to college so highly touted could pose a severe challenge to team chemistry if he gives off a sense of arrogance or entitlement.
"Everybody is telling him how good he is and how he can come in and start and all this other stuff," Jenkins said. "He can be fooled by the media or the recruiting process."
According to those around him, though, one of Pryor's best traits is that he knows how much he doesn't know. He is driven by a desire to improve, and he yearns to be challenged.
Pryor's quarterbacks coach at Jeannette (Pa.) High School, Roy Hall, tells a story of a drill Pryor and his teammates conducted a year ago. The quarterbacks were trying to lob a ball into a 55-gallon drum from 20 yards to help them perfect their touch on lob passes.
"It was time to go into a meeting," Hall said, "and one of the other guys lucks out and gets it in. (Pryor) was late getting to that meeting, because he had to stay out there until he got one in. That's just him."
Hall said he often quoted a particular saying to Pryor as a reminder: "No talent beats talent when talent doesn't work."
Weightlifting sessions in Hall's garage were intense. Already, in Pryor's six weeks in Columbus, Ohio State strength and conditioning coach Eric Lichter has taken note.
"He just seems to be one of those guys who enjoys physical work," Lichter said.
And then Lichter mentioned something that seems minor, but it illustrates that this kid is different.
"Whenever I talk to him, he looks you in the eye the entire time," Lichter said. "He's not distracted by text messaging and his cell phone. He keeps eye contact and he listens to everything you say. Not everybody does that."
Coach Jim Tressel learned a lot about Pryor's eagerness to learn and grow throughout the recruiting process.
After Tressel flew to a Jeannette game last fall and witnessed another Pryor tour de force, he said Pryor was more concerned with a play he missed than with those he made.
"He wanted to explain to me about that one pass he didn't hit: 'I saw the safety and I let it go just a little bit, I should've hit it,' " Tressel said. "He just loves to talk about becoming as good as he can become."
Even Pryor's choice of colleges revealed character. Many schools doubtless tantalized him with promises of immediate playing time.
Tressel, though, made it clear that returning senior Todd Boeckman was the starter. Any playing time Pryor gets will be earned.
"Everyone is like, 'Why not go to Michigan, he's going to run this offense; why not go to Oregon, he's going to run this offense,' " OSU receiver Brian Hartline said. "But it's not about that, it's about the future. So it's a great call for him (to come to OSU). Sit behind a veteran quarterback and learn some things. That speaks a lot about him."
Of course, the possibility exists that Pryor is so good that he will push Boeckman for the starting job this season. Boeckman said he welcomes the competition.
Jenkins, meanwhile, will keep prodding the rookie, testing him. As a team leader, it's his job.
"He can contribute," Jenkins said. "As long as you have the right attitude, it will all work out."
Looks like this Kid has his head screwed on pretty good right out of the gate.....and as time goes on...we will see!!!
Ohio State football
Pryor's competitive nature makes him student of game
Sunday, July 27, 2008 3:40 AM
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Despite all his talent, Terrelle Pryor is driven to learn.
CHICAGO -- Let's see what you're made of, rookie, Malcolm Jenkins thought the other day.
Ohio State players were holding an informal seven-on-seven passing drill, and Jenkins, a senior cornerback and world-class trash talker, decided to challenge hotshot freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
"I asked him if he was going to throw me a pick," Jenkins said, breaking into a grin. "And he threw the ball at me every single time. He's not somebody who's going to back down."
Jenkins was only the latest person to experience Pryor's competitiveness, to learn the most important reason why he might make an immediate impact on the Ohio State program in 2008.
The physical abilities are obvious. Pryor is the first player in Pennsylvania high school history to both throw and run for more than 4,000 career yards. He possesses a rare blend of size, speed and strength.
It's why a kid who has yet to play a college game was a hot topic of discussion at the Big Ten preseason meetings this past week.
But when it comes to Pryor, it's not measurables that matter most. It's his attitude. A player who comes to college so highly touted could pose a severe challenge to team chemistry if he gives off a sense of arrogance or entitlement.
"Everybody is telling him how good he is and how he can come in and start and all this other stuff," Jenkins said. "He can be fooled by the media or the recruiting process."
According to those around him, though, one of Pryor's best traits is that he knows how much he doesn't know. He is driven by a desire to improve, and he yearns to be challenged.
Pryor's quarterbacks coach at Jeannette (Pa.) High School, Roy Hall, tells a story of a drill Pryor and his teammates conducted a year ago. The quarterbacks were trying to lob a ball into a 55-gallon drum from 20 yards to help them perfect their touch on lob passes.
"It was time to go into a meeting," Hall said, "and one of the other guys lucks out and gets it in. (Pryor) was late getting to that meeting, because he had to stay out there until he got one in. That's just him."
Hall said he often quoted a particular saying to Pryor as a reminder: "No talent beats talent when talent doesn't work."
Weightlifting sessions in Hall's garage were intense. Already, in Pryor's six weeks in Columbus, Ohio State strength and conditioning coach Eric Lichter has taken note.
"He just seems to be one of those guys who enjoys physical work," Lichter said.
And then Lichter mentioned something that seems minor, but it illustrates that this kid is different.
"Whenever I talk to him, he looks you in the eye the entire time," Lichter said. "He's not distracted by text messaging and his cell phone. He keeps eye contact and he listens to everything you say. Not everybody does that."
Coach Jim Tressel learned a lot about Pryor's eagerness to learn and grow throughout the recruiting process.
After Tressel flew to a Jeannette game last fall and witnessed another Pryor tour de force, he said Pryor was more concerned with a play he missed than with those he made.
"He wanted to explain to me about that one pass he didn't hit: 'I saw the safety and I let it go just a little bit, I should've hit it,' " Tressel said. "He just loves to talk about becoming as good as he can become."
Even Pryor's choice of colleges revealed character. Many schools doubtless tantalized him with promises of immediate playing time.
Tressel, though, made it clear that returning senior Todd Boeckman was the starter. Any playing time Pryor gets will be earned.
"Everyone is like, 'Why not go to Michigan, he's going to run this offense; why not go to Oregon, he's going to run this offense,' " OSU receiver Brian Hartline said. "But it's not about that, it's about the future. So it's a great call for him (to come to OSU). Sit behind a veteran quarterback and learn some things. That speaks a lot about him."
Of course, the possibility exists that Pryor is so good that he will push Boeckman for the starting job this season. Boeckman said he welcomes the competition.
Jenkins, meanwhile, will keep prodding the rookie, testing him. As a team leader, it's his job.
"He can contribute," Jenkins said. "As long as you have the right attitude, it will all work out."