Football

Clark’s style of play is one Pryor should try to emulate

Walt Moody

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor and Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark didn’t have much in common heading to their respective universities, which will square off this afternoon at Beaver Stadium.

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Pryor was the most highly-recruited player in the country coming out of Jeannette High School outside of Pittsburgh. The scouts flocked to his games. He adorned national magazine covers and if the recruiting experts could have given him more than the maximum five stars he’d probably have got it.

He had his choice of schools. Pryor’s decision to attend Ohio State, which won out over the Nittany Lions and others, was broadcast nationally and as eagerly anticipated in some places as the final episode of “American Idol.”

Clark had no such hoopla coming out of Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio.

According to one scouting service, Clark was a three-star recruit, along with many other quarterbacks you’ve never of heard of or never will. Among the top dual-threat quarterbacks, Clark was rated the 24th best in the country and he was rated as the 38th best player in Ohio. He was second team All-Ohio Division IV.

And while he had some schools like Nebraska and West Virginia in his mix, he chose Penn State over mighty Toledo. Sports Illustrated or ESPN wasn’t there to document him putting pen to letter-of-intent.

The contrasts didn’t stop there.

Pryor moved into a starting role for the Buckeyes just two games into his freshman season, replacing a seasoned senior, and he’s started every game since.

Clark sat out a year at Kiski Prep before enrolling at Penn State. He waited most of two seasons behind Anthony Morelli, a five-star recruit who never lived up to that billing. From the time of his final scholastic snap, Clark waited four full seasons before he got a chance to start his first game.

And even then, many thought sophomore Pat Devlin, a four-star recruit, should have gotten the job. There are still those — you should see my e-mail — that still think Devlin, now at Delaware, still should be the starter.

Oh, there’s one big thing that separates the two.

Clark, without all of the fanfare, has become the quarterback today that Pryor could only hope to emulate.

Both came out of high school with the same description of being a dual threat — having the ability to make big plays both running and passing.

While Clark still can run — he’s scored five times and has a 51-yarder this season — he’s blossomed into one of the Big Ten’s and nation’s most efficient passers.

Heading into today’s game, he leads the conference and is 14th nationally with a 149.3 passing efficiency rating. He’s very accurate, completing 63 percent of his tosses, and has thrown for 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions. In a balanced offense, Clark is still second in the Big Ten with 240 yards passing per game.

In the face of pressure, he’s resisted the urge to bolt and has become a the kind of passer who could make an NFL roster.

Pryor has proven to be a runner who sometimes can throw. He leads the Buckeyes with 554 yards on the ground and has scored six rushing touchdowns, but his erratic arm has cost Ohio State in both of its losses (Southern Cal and Purdue).

Pryor is completing a rather pedestrian 55 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His passing efficiency rating is 129.2, which is fifth in the conference and 61st in the country. They’re not exactly the numbers you’d expect from an all-world recruit.

It’s not surprising that Clark’s and Pryor’s statistics translate where it counts the most — on the scoreboard. Penn State is second in the conference in red zone offense, while Ohio State is 10th.

Clark’s play (19-3 as a starter) and Pryor’s struggles have led many to wonder whether it was a blessing in disguise that the latter decided to go to Columbus instead of State College.

That remains to be seen. Remember, Clark wasn’t thrown into a starting role immediately and had the chance to watch someone like Michael Robinson perform and had three years with the playbook before he took his first snap as a starter.

For Pryor, it’s been baptism under fire and the lead is flying a lot hotter in the Big Ten than it was in Class AA in Pennsylvania, even if he was playing in the WPIAL.

If Pryor wants to cure his ills, maybe he should watch his adversary today.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be more like Daryll.

Walt Moody is sports editor of the Centre Daily Times. He can be reached at 231-4630 or wmoody@centredaily.com.