NATION'S TOP RECRUITS
Top prospect Pryor a total package
Quarterback Terrell Pryor has the speed to outrun opponents and the arm to hit open receivers.
By MANNY NAVARRO
CAROLYN KASTER / AP
Quarterback Terrell Pryor has 4.4-second speed and 6-6, 225-pound size. 'We had Vince Young in our game six years ago and they're almost identical,' national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said of Pryor.
Etienne Sabino knows what it's like to try to tackle a player with speed. The 6-3, 230-pound blue-chip linebacker from Miami Krop said playing in South Florida prepared him for the fast pace of the U.S. Army All-American game earlier this month.
What Sabino, an Ohio State commitment, wasn't ready for was meeting the nation's consensus No. 1 recruit -- quarterback Terrell Pryor -- and finding out speed could be wrapped in such a big body.
''I wasn't used to seeing a guy that big [6-6, 225 pounds] run the way he does,'' Sabino said of Pryor, his East teammate who won MVP honors in what is considered the country's most prestigious high school All-Star game.
``He's got a gun, too. I've only played against Vince Young in video games. But I guess I know now what it feels like.''
THE TOP PLAYER
Pryor, who boasts 4.4-second speed across 40 yards, is not considered the country's best player because he physically looks and plays the game like Young. Recruiters from Ohio State, Michigan and the rest of the country are after him because his high school achievements at Jeanette High dwarf some of the other greats to come out of Western Pennsylvania, a region considered the Cradle of Quarterbacks.
Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, George Blanda and Jim Kelly never dominated the way Pryor has. He's the first player in Pennsylvania history to rush for more than 4,000 yards (4,250) and pass for more than 4,000 (4,249) in his career.
As a senior, he scored a touchdown once every four times he passed or ran with the ball, running for 33 touchdowns and throwing for 23 in a season in which his team went 16-0 and scored a state-record 860 points. He's also an all-state small forward selection in basketball. Recruiting experts say he could easily sign with a top-10 college basketball program.
''We had Vince Young in our game six years ago and they're almost identical,'' said national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who works for CSTV.com. ``[Pryor] is very hard to bring down. He's a big guy who can fly.
``He doesn't have a polished arm, but he's got a good arm and that makes him doubly-dangerous when he goes up against any kind of defense.''
Larry Blustein of MSLCombines.net said what impressed him most about Pryor was how easily he dominated at the U.S. Army All-American game.
''You watch him play against elite kids and he toys with them,'' Blustein said.
Pryor is also special because with only eight days left until national signing day, he's one of the few remaining prominent, national recruits left uncommitted.
THE TOP UNCOMMITTED
The list includes:
• Receiver Julio Jones (6-4, 215 pounds), of Foley, Ala., is being recruited by Florida State, Alabama, LSU and Oklahoma.
''He's a linebacker who plays wide receiver,'' Lemming said. ``I know he didn't have a good all-star game -- he got shut down by Alonzo Lawrence of Mississippi. But he's a big-time physical receiver with great skills. He's got a dilemma. I think Alabama is going to do whatever they have to do to keep him in state because he's worth more to them publicity wise.''
• Defensive end Nick Perry (6-4, 235) of Detroit set a state record with 36 sacks and is set to visit the University of Miami this weekend. He is picking between the Canes, Southern Cal and Michigan.
''Michigan is really into this thing,'' Blustein said. ``They're making this one of those guys that can't escape. I still think Miami is in the mix because they recruited him hard and they recruited him harder than anybody early. But when your family is from that Detroit area, it's like trying to get a kid from Florida or Florida State. Miami is in, but I think Rich Rodriguez speaks everyone's language.''
• Running back Jamie Harper of Jacksonville Trinity Christian, at 6-1, 227 and with 4.4 speed, is considered by Blustein to be the nation's top available back. Harper visited Clemson and Illinois, and his high school coach said after making a trip to Florida State on Monday, Harper is supposed to visit UM this weekend.
''If Randy Shannon and the University of Miami are looking for character, this is the kid they're looking for,'' Blustein said. ``He catches the ball extremely well. I liken him a lot to Jason Geathers, who was a four-time All-State player and player of the year as a freshman. He ended up playing receiver.''
But the biggest available catch is Pryor, who analysts believe will end up choosing Michigan or Ohio State. Sabino said he is trying convince Prior to pick Ohio State with text messages. But Blustein believes Michigan has the inside track.
''I know people mention Ohio State, but boy what a plus he would be for Rich Rodriguez at Michigan,'' Blustein said.
``Rodriguez is going to bring that little fun offense and if Pryor is the admiral of that, watch out.''
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