When it was announced in December that five members of the Ohio State football program had been suspended for the the first five games of the 2011 season, one of the conditions that allowed the quintet of juniors to play in the Buckeyes’ Sugar Bowl match-up with Arkansas was that they all promised to return to the school for another season.
Each member of the Buckeye Five agreed to that stipulation -- although Pryor later hinted that not all may stick to it -- and all stuck to that pledge as the deadline for early entry into the April NFL draft came and went. However, based on one report, the most recognizable member of that group is still considering reneging on that promise.
Citing an unnamed source, the National Football Post is reporting that “the odds of Pryor staying for his senior season are about 60-40” and is considering making himself available for the NFL’s supplemental draft this summer. For whatever reason, the source told NFP that whether Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd enters the supplemental draft will play a role in Pryor’s decision. Floyd avoided an in-season suspension from the school following a third alcohol-related brush with the law, but head coach Brian Kelly has yet to reinstate the All-American and a suspension meted out by the football program is still a possibility.
A source with knowledge of Pryor’s thinking tells CFT that while the subject of the supplemental draft had been broached by some close to the quarterback in the past, “if you’re going to put odds on it, there’s a 99.99-percent chance” that he sticks to his word and returns for his senior season. With that said, we would not be surprised by anything that Pryor does, up to and including leaving OSU early for the NFL.
The supplemental draft is normally held in mid-July, but the uncertain labor situation makes it unclear whether or not there will even be a supplemental version of the draft this year for anyone to enter.
Pryor has not participated in spring practice this year after undergoing a pair of operations to repair ligament damage in his foot the past couple of months.
UPDATED 2:59 p.m. ET: Adam Jardy of the Buckeye Sports Bulletin tweeted the following shortly after NFP’s post, further casting doubt on the report that has Pryor considering making himself available for the supplemental draft.
“Talked to someone very close to Terrelle Pryor who told me he has never once mentioned the Supplemental Draft. Stop that rumor right now.”