Race for recruit harder to call
It may be down to OSU or Michigan for QB
Sunday, January 20, 2008 3:38 AM
By Tim May
The Columbus Dispatch
DARREN ABATE | Associated Press
Terrelle Pryor possesses the running and passing skills that Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez is looking for.
Back in the good old days -- about five weeks ago -- most analysts agreed that Ohio State was sitting pretty in the recruiting competition for Terrelle Pryor.
"It looked like it would be a slam dunk for Ohio State," Jeremy Crabtree of Rivals.com said.
But the Buckeyes' breakaway in pursuit of Pryor -- a 6-foot-6 quarterback from Jeannette, Pa., who is rated the nation's No. 1 prospect -- turned into at least a two-school race Dec. 16 when Michigan hired Rich Rodriguez. The coach specializes in the spread option offense that Pryor seems innately suited for, and he called Pryor that day. Just like that, Pryor dropped West Virginia from his ever-changing list of finalists and added Michigan.
That's why -- even though he has other suitors, notably Florida, Oregon, Louisiana State and Penn State -- there is a sense that on signing day Feb. 6, as television cameras zoom in just past noon, Pryor is going to choose between the Wolverines and the Buckeyes.
"That's not to say somebody like LSU won't come out of left field -- you can never say never," Crabtree said. "But all signs point to this being a classic, monumental Ohio State-Michigan recruiting battle."
Bill Kurelic of Bucknuts.com agreed, but with a caveat.
"Oregon, with the offense they run and with the success their quarterback Dennis Dixon had this season, I really believe it would be a strong player in this race if it wasn't so far away," Kurelic said. "So in the end, I will be surprised if it doesn't come down to Ohio State or Michigan."