With Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and four other Buckeyes serving a five-game suspension for the first part of the 2011 season, there were many who initially wondered if the anointed “Buckeye Five” would jump ship early and declare for the NFL supplemental draft last month. The rumors, at least as far as Pryor was concerned, were shot down hours later as Pryor took to Twitter, issuing the following statement:
“I’ll be suited up at Lincoln Nebraska!! And first player at QB to meet with the Wolverines for the fourth time!!
But, that was then, and Jim Tressel‘s resignation from Ohio State is now.
So, somewhat appropriately, the whispers that Pryor and other draft-eligible Buckeyes would leave Columbus for greener ($$) pastures have risen back to the top of rumor mill.
At least five sources close to the college and pro game have told CBS’ Len Pasquarelli that the five Buckeye players suspended for the first five games of the season are expected to at least reconsider their supplemental draft stock. One source close to an OSU player said the departure of Tressel “put some things up in the air.”
"[The resignation of Tressel] changes the dynamic a bit. Some of them might reconsider,” noted another college source.
The supplemental draft is still far from a done deal for this summer due to the continuing NFL lockout. And while it wouldn’t surprise us if one -- or all -- of the players decided to leave with Ohio State’s most recent coaching development, we also have to consider the fact that they’ve turned down a chance at the draft before.