Because of surgery recently performed on his foot, quarterback Terrelle Pryor is unlikely to participate in spring practice as Ohio State begins preparations for the 2011 season. Because of an NCAA suspension for receiving impermissible benefits, Pryor will miss -- barring a successful appeal -- the first five games of the season.
And, because of the extended period of time Pryor will be away from any meaningful action, there’s a school of thought that the senior could lose his job if someone on the depth chart steps up and excels. Specifically, heralded true freshman Braxton Miller is viewed by some as a player who could make an immediate and productive impact, thus rendering Pryor’s return a moot point.
Don’t count one of Jim Tressel‘s top offensive assistants as one who follows that line of thinking. Right now.
Quarterbacks coach Nick Siciliano told the Columbus Dispatch recently that Pryor should regain his job when he’s eligible to return for the Oct. 8 road game against new Big Ten rival Nebraska. And the assistant used Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers as a prime example of a player that faced a lengthy suspension and regained his starting job.
“We have a recent example of a quarterback missing some time, and then taking his team to the Super Bowl when he got his job back,” Siciliano said. “I would foresee (Pryor) getting his job back. That’s just my opinion right now.”
Roethlisberger, of course, was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season, and returned to help lead the Steelers into a little game you may have heard of this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
(Writer’s note: Go Pack Go!)
Barring an unforeseen set of circumstances -- like Miller immediately morphing into Cam v2.0 -- there should be little to no doubt whatsoever that Pryor will rightly reclaim the job he’s held for the better part of three full seasons once he serves his penance.