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Terrelle Pryor Leaving Ohio State. What’s Next?

In a move that surprised no one, quarterback Terrelle Pryor announced today he will not return to Ohio State’s football team this fall. In a statement released by his lawyer, Larry James, Pryor said:

“In the best interest of my teammates, I have decided to forego my senior year of football at the Ohio State University.”

Pryor was going to be suspended for much of the season anyway, and he came under significant fire once Ohio State coach Jim Tressel stepped down and many wanted a scapegoat. For both parties, this is probably the right move. The only question now: where does Pryor go from here?

One possibility, and maybe the most likely one: the NFL’s supplemental draft. According to this story, James called that option Pryor’s “desire,” and he also told USA Today that “he has an interest in going in the supplemental draft if that is a probability.” The supplemental draft is scheduled for next month (assuming any prospective entrants apply), and Pryor projects as a mid-round pick in such a draft.

Some have also raised the UFL or CFL as a possible (temporary) landing spot for Pryor. It seems a logical fit on the surface – hey, it’s pro football, and with the NFL season in doubt, maybe it’s the best option for him to refine his skills (Pryor’s prospects as an NFL quarterback are uncertain) and prove his worth. Others, however, aren’t seeing it.

Then, there’s perhaps the least likely option of all: transferring to another school, or returning to Ohio State to finish off his degree and simply not playing football. USA Today raised the former possibility (actually, we’ll just refer to it as a “scenario,” since we think it’s so unlikely it’s not even worth calling it a “possibility”), while James said Pryor “has an interest in staying in school and finishing.” It’s worth noting, though, that OSU interim coach Luke Fickell said this in a statement:

“I was notified this evening that Terrelle has decided to pursue a professional career. I wish him the best in his pursuits.”

…which is really just one more reason to believe Pryor’s going to give the supplemental draft a go. It’s the clearest path to the NFL – at this point, it’s one of the few NFL activities that could still actually happen – and Pryor is gifted enough athletically that someone will give him a shot. Maybe he won’t be an NFL quarterback, but 6-6, big-bodied guys who run like he can don’t come along very often. Pryor should explore any and all NFL avenues open to him – and hopefully, this upcoming phase of his career ends better than the last one.

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