Terrelle Pryor’s college coach says he has what it takes to switch positions and make it work in the NFL.
Former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel says that Pryor, who has bounced around the league as a quarterback and will now try to make the Browns’ roster as a wide receiver, has all the tools to play his new position.
“If anyone can, he can,” Tressel said on WHBC in Canton, Ohio. “He certainly has tremendous athletic ability and a passion to help wherever he can be helpful. So if anyone can do it, he can. And, he could be the bonus of, he can be the team’s third quarterback, and that way they only have to carry two, which gives you a chance to have one more good player on special teams or whatever else. So I think he could be a bonus.”
Tressel said he hopes Pryor understands, however, that it’s going to require a lot of hard work in the classroom.
“He’s got to pay close attention and understand that he’s in a new world and he’s got to assume that he knows nothing,” Tressel said. “He’s also got to take the advantage of having been the guy under center, with the knowledge there, but he’s also got to learn the intricacies of playing another position, and just understand that he’s starting from the beginning and work hard every day and believe in himself. He’s really grown, I’ve talked to him off and on. I got a call from him the day he went to the Browns, but I was in one of those many meetings so I didn’t get a chance to talk to him. I’m sure he’ll do well.”
The 6-foot-4, 233-pound Pryor is a great athlete who averaged 6.7 yards a carry during his time as a quarterback for the Raiders. He has the ability to make plays with the ball in his hands, and even though he failed in the NFL at making plays with his arm, he may still make a difference in Cleveland.