Terrelle Pryor Terrelle Pryor ( born June 20 , 1989 ) is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008−2010 . Considered the most recruited high school football - basketball athlete in southwestern Pennsylvania since Tom Clements , Pryor was widely regarded as the nation ' s top football prospect of 2008 , and was named " Junior of the Year " by Rivals . com . Pryor originally hoped to be a two - sport athlete as he was also one of the nation ' s most heralded high school basketball players , but later chose to focus on football . High school career . At Jeannette High School , Pryor was clocked at 4 . 4 seconds in the 40 - yard dash , and because of his athleticism and frame , he drew comparisons to former Texas standout Vince Young . Pryor also lived up to his recruiting ranking as a basketball player by leading the Jeannette Jayhawks to win their first WPIAL Championship in over 20 years , and then on to win the Pennsylvania PIAA state basketball championship game as a senior . During his junior year , he led the Jayhawks to their first Pennsylvania PIAA Class " AA " state football championship game where they lost to the Warriors of Wilson Area High School . During the 2007 football season , Pryor and the Jayhawks repeated as champions of the WPIAL . In the Pennsylvania state semi - finals against Wilmington , Terrelle became the first player in Pennsylvania history to run for 4 , 000 yards and also throw for 4 , 000 yards . The following week , Pryor led the Jayhawks to their first - ever Pennsylvania state championship by defeating the Dunmore Bucks , 49 - 21 . At the conclusion of the season , Pryor had quarterbacked the Jayhawks to a Pennsylvania state season record of 860 points . Pryor ' s high school accomplishments include being the two - time Pennsylvania Player of the Year , the offensive Player of the Year and the MVP of the U . S . Army All - American Bowl . College recruiting . Pryor was widely considered one of the top football recruits in the Class of 2008 . He was ranked number four in the ESPNU 150 and the number one quarterback . Throughout his high school career , Pryor acquired numerous scholarship offers , initially committing to the hometown University of Pittsburgh to play basketball under coach Jamie Dixon . However , by his senior year his top interests were Ohio State , Penn State , Michigan , Oregon and West Virginia . " Sports Illustrated " called Pryor ' s announcement " the most anticipated signing day announcement in history . " Pryor originally intended to announce his decision on February 6 , National Signing Day , but later changed his mind , stating he still had not decided among Michigan , Ohio State , Oregon , and Penn State . Following the Jeannette basketball team ' s state championship victory on March 15 , Pryor stated he would make his college decision within one week . On March 19 , 2008 Pryor announced at a press conference that he would attend The Ohio State University . College career . Pryor saw limited action in the Buckeye ' s season opener against Youngstown State . He took more snaps against USC on September 13 , 2008 , completing 7 of 9 passes for 59 yards , as well as rushing for 40 yards on 11 carries . On September 20 , 2008 , Pryor threw for four touchdowns ( an Ohio State record for a freshman ) and one interception in his first career start for Ohio State . Ohio State beat Troy 28 - 10 . On October 4 , 2008 , Pryor ran for the winning touchdown against Wisconsin on an option play with running back Chris " Beanie " Wells . On October 25 , 2008 against Penn State Pryor threw for a career high 226 yards , connecting on 16 of 25 passes . Against Illinois on November 15 , 2008 , Pryor had his first career 100 yard rushing day running for 110 yards and a touchdown . In the Fiesta Bowl he lined up at receiver and caught his first touchdown pass in college . Pryor led Ohio State to a 8 - 1 record as a starter in his freshman year ; his only loss as a starter was against Penn State . ( Todd Boeckman made the start in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas . ) Following the 2008 Big Ten Conference football season , he was an honorable mention All - Big Ten Conference selection by the media and Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the coaches . Before his sophomore year began he ran a 4 . 33 40 - yard dash in a race against Ray Small and many others . He was the fastest Buckeye in 2009 . In his sophomore year Pryor led the Buckeyes to another Big Ten Championship . After starting the season slow he eventually developed into a better passer , and went on to earn the 2010 Rose Bowl MVP trophy after leading Ohio State to a 26 - 17 victory over Oregon . Pryor had the best passing game of his career , and also rushed for 72 yards . Following the 2009 Big Ten Conference football season , he was an honorable mention All - Big Ten Conference selection by the media . Ohio State began second in most polls and Pryor began the season as a favorite for numerous awards . On September 25 , 2010 , Pryor had a break - out game in a 73 - 20 win over Eastern Michigan . He had 6 total touchdowns , including one rushing and one receiving . Following the 2010 Big Ten Conference football season , he was an honorable mention All - Big Ten Conference selection by both the coaches and the media . He was edged out by Denard Robinson as the 2010 Big Ten Conference MVP as voted by the Big Ten coaches . They had the same number of first place votes . On December 23 , 2010 , the NCAA ruled that Pryor and four of his teammates would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season , as a sanction for selling memorabilia . NCAA investigation . On May 31 , 2011 , head coach Jim Tressel resigned following the reports of players receiving improper benefits . The " Columbus Dispatch " reported that the NCAA and Ohio State are investigating more than 50 vehicle purchases by Buckeyes players , family members and friends over the past . " Sports Illustrated " reported that Pryor drove up to eight cars in his three years at Ohio State . Multiple media outlets also reported that Pryor had been driving on a license that was suspended by the State of Ohio . He drove a Nissan 350Z to a team meeting and workout . " ESPN " reported that his suspension was to expire on August 18 , 2011 . In a subsequent report , ESPN also alleged that Pryor made thousands of dollars autographing memorabilia for a local booster , a charge denied by Pryor ' s attorney . Departure . On June 7 , 2011 , it was announced that Pryor had chosen to withdraw from the university . On June 26 , 2011 , Pryor was banned from all contact with the university ' s athletic program and new incoming recruits . This caused him to become eligible for the NFL ' s Supplemental Draft . Professional career . 2011 NFL Draft . Pryor held his Pro Day on August 20 , 2011 , in Hempfield Township , Westmoreland County , Pennsylvania , where representatives from 17 NFL teams were present , including the Oakland Raiders . As was widely anticipated , Pryor demonstrated excellent athleticism and speed for a 6 ' 4½ " athlete weighing in at 240 pounds . His 40 - yard dash times were clocked from 4 . 32 to 4 . 54 seconds , a range of times considered extremely fast for an athlete of his height and weight . Some scouts noted that the turf he ran on was soft , and that he would be even faster on the harder turf he might often encounter in the NFL . His throwing wasn ' t as impressive , as he completed 27 of 39 passes for just under a 70 % completion rate , with 4 of those passes dropped by receivers . Quarterbacks are usually expected to complete around 90 % of their passes on their Pro Days , as there are no defenders to prevent the passes from being completed to their receivers . Oakland Raiders . 2011 . The Oakland Raiders selected Pryor in the third round of the 2011 Supplemental Draft on August 22 , 2011 ; he was the last pick longtime owner Al Davis made in his tenure with the Raiders . Three days later , Pryor and the Raiders agreed to a 4 - year contract . Pryor served an NFL - mandated 5 - game suspension at the beginning of the 2011 NFL season ( the suspension being from the Ohio State scandal ) , but was still able to work out with the club . Pryor was reinstated the day following the team ' s win over Houston . On October 23 , 2011 , in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs , Pryor saw his first NFL action . He lined up at the wide receiver spot , motioned behind center and ran a quarterback sneak . The play was nullified due to a false start penalty on Pryor . 2012 . Pryor sat most of the 2012 season , but was the starting quarterback in the season finale against the San Diego Chargers after season - long starting quarterback Carson Palmer went down with an injury the previous week . In his first start , Pryor threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another in a three - point loss to the San Diego Chargers .