Rodney Gallagher

[GrowthHormone]

Duzz and capel need to tag team this. I’d take him for 3 months starting in January if that’s all you can get. Free scholarship, no brainer

You sure about that? I thought they count against scholarship limits for both sports. I seem to recall FSU or someone bringing guys in on track schollies to play football, which led to a change. Now I'm starting to remember that it was something like a scholarship counts against the limit for all sports for which the player took a recruiting visit to that school. Something like that? Am I way off?

 

[NTOP]

You are so right. There is a guy who was a top 50 player as a sophmore and went the football route. I don't know how his finances are and that is none of my business, but does the name Terrelle Pryor ring a bell?

I think that if he had to do things over, may have done things differently.

Couldn't shoot well enough.....terrific otherwise.

 

[thirteenNINE]

Pryor just didn't have an outside shot. I mean, jumpshot. And I always thought that would limit his ceiling in basketball.

I mean, Shumpert shot 39.6% from the field and 30.5% from 3 at Georgia Tech and still went 17th in the draft.

 

[pittchagg]

You sure about that? I thought they count against scholarship limits for both sports. I seem to recall FSU or someone bringing guys in on track schollies to play football, which led to a change. Now I'm starting to remember that it was something like a scholarship counts against the limit for all sports for which the player took a recruiting visit to that school. Something like that? Am I way off?

Depends on the sport. If they play football and any other sport, the scholarship counts against the football count. If the player plays basketball and any other sport (other than football), then it counts against basketball.

So a football and basketball player counts against football. A football and baseball player counts against football. A basketball and baseball player counts against basketball, etc.

Not sure how it works out with visits and everything, but I’m 99.5% sure that’s how scholarships are counted, at least pre-pandemic.

 

[andypappas]

Couldn't shoot well enough.....terrific otherwise.

I never saw him play, but don't you think he would have been able to develop a shot in 2 years if he would have worked on it?

 

[thirteenNINE]

I never saw him play, but don't you think he would have been able to develop a shot in 2 years if he would have worked on it?

This will always be one of my favorite board arguments that I never get tired of, it's my personal on campus football stadium as it were, because in my mind Pryor was a no doubt decade long NBA starter.

I use Dion Waiters and Iman Shumpert as common comps because they were highly rated strong, athletic wings but Pryor was bigger, a better athlete, and a better basketball player than both of them. He had very good court sense, was a good creator, and could defend inside and out. If he focuses on basketball he's a McDonald's All-American and a first rounder in two years.

Instead though, he had the misfortune to grow up in western PA where every player is pushed into football no matter what, even though he really didn't have an obvious position on the next level. He didn't have the arm skills to play quarterback on the NFL level but because Vince Young had just been a thing people drew the obvious comparison there but he also wasn't a great fit at wide receiver either, he was too big and just didn't have the separation ability which is why he crashed out of the league at that position too. He was probably best off bulking up to play defensive end on the professional level but that requires significantly more work than he would have needed on his jumper.

 

[BigZeke]

This will always be one of my favorite board arguments that I never get tired of, it's my personal on campus football stadium as it were, because in my mind Pryor was a no doubt decade long NBA starter.

I use Dion Waiters and Iman Shumpert as common comps because they were highly rated strong, athletic wings but Pryor was bigger, a better athlete, and a better basketball player than both of them. He had very good court sense, was a good creator, and could defend inside and out. If he focuses on basketball he's a McDonald's All-American and a first rounder in two years.

Instead though, he had the misfortune to grow up in western PA where every player is pushed into football no matter what, even though he really didn't have an obvious position on the next level. He didn't have the arm skills to play quarterback on the NFL level but because Vince Young had just been a thing people drew the obvious comparison there but he also wasn't a great fit at wide receiver either, he was too big and just didn't have the separation ability which is why he crashed out of the league at that position too. He was probably best off bulking up to play defensive end on the professional level but that requires significantly more work than he would have needed on his jumper.

Pryor was arguably the greatest Athlete in WPIAL history alongside Brian Davis and Lavar Arrington and unbelievably those two noted offensive Guru's (love that word) - Wanny n Cav - were spot on when they told the kid in his "secret" Mtg w Pitt that his best long-term NFL position was WR. There is also no doubt in my mind that with proper coaching and hard work TP would have been a 10 year starter in the NBA. Either way there are $14,000,000 reasons why a small town kid from Jeannette ultimately made the best decision for Himself and his Family by going the QB/Football route - H2P!

 

[NTOP]

I never saw him play, but don't you think he would have been able to develop a shot in 2 years if he would have worked on it?

Cam Wright says...NO. So does Trey McGowens. Brandin Knight. Lots of others.
I do think the rest of his game was NBA-level. He's done alright, regardless.

 

[joeydavid]

Pryor was arguably the greatest Athlete in WPIAL history alongside Brian Davis and Lavar Arrington and unbelievably those two noted offensive Guru's (love that word) - Wanny n Cav - were spot on when they told the kid in his "secret" Mtg w Pitt that his best long-term NFL position was WR. There is also no doubt in my mind that with proper coaching and hard work TP would have been a 10 year starter in the NBA. Either way there are $14,000,000 reasons why a small town kid from Jeannette ultimately made the best decision for Himself and his Family by going the QB/Football route - H2P!

You could argue and I would that Pryor wasn't even the best athlete in his class.

 

[TheChair]

Pryor was arguably the greatest Athlete in WPIAL history alongside Brian Davis and Lavar Arrington and unbelievably those two noted offensive Guru's (love that word) - Wanny n Cav - were spot on when they told the kid in his "secret" Mtg w Pitt that his best long-term NFL position was WR. There is also no doubt in my mind that with proper coaching and hard work TP would have been a 10 year starter in the NBA. Either way there are $14,000,000 reasons why a small town kid from Jeannette ultimately made the best decision for Himself and his Family by going the QB/Football route - H2P!

I think he made the safe decision. And, it seemed like those around him pushed him to that decision. And, he made the safe money that those around him told him that he would make.

I find it hard to fault the guy for going down the football route. He was an excellent QB at OSU, was taken high enough in that supplemental draft, made good cash while playing two pro positions.

He was not a safe basketball prospect. The NBA was not a guarantee for him like the NFL really was. He was an upside prospect that had great athleticism and point forward type skills. He needed work on his skill game but had athleticism to compensate.

It is a lot harder to make it in the NBA with what he had in that sport as a high school senior than to make it in the NFL with he had in that sport as a high school senior.

You see guys like DeJuan become college All-Americans in basketball and DeJuan did not quite make the money playing basketball that Terrelle did playing football. Herb Pope was better than both of them back then and made fractional money as a pro compared to either of them.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Yeah, Pope was the type of guy, had the prototype NBA size for his position. If he could have stayed on the straight and narrow, and say went to Pitt and developed, he likely could have been a 1st Rd NBA pick.

Of course it's also quite possible that if Pope had gone to Pitt he would have been dead in six months.

 

[NTOP]

You could argue and I would that Pryor wasn't even the best athlete in his class.

Dwight Collins....4 sport star. Marino 3 sport star. Pryor???

 

[joeydavid]

Dwight Collins....4 sport star. Marino 3 sport star. Pryor???

You are off by a few decades...

 

[PITTfanSD]

Pryor was very good in both sports! I watched in person both PIAA Championship games in football and b-ball. He “could” have developed into an excellent basketball player but as others have indicated and I heard from sources back at that time he was pushed towards football (QB specifically) to make the sure thing money with his size, athleticism, and yes... speed. He was one of those deceptively fast players because he was so tall And athletic he looked to be gliding along, meanwhile leaving would-be tacklers eating turf. He was a great returner in HS and I think if he would have gone the WR route he could have increased his stock with kickoff returns as well. QBs don’t return kicks in college so he never showcased those abilities.

However, he has made a good amount of coin so it’s hard to fault him and his handlers. Not very many folks come out of Jeannette, let alone West Jeannette, and make multi-millions (athlete or otherwise). I should know since I grew up in Jeannette and even West Jeannette for a bit in my early years.

 

[joeydavid]

Pryor was very good in both sports! I watched in person both PIAA Championship games in football and b-ball. He “could” have developed into an excellent basketball player but as others have indicated and I heard from sources back at that time he was pushed towards football (QB specifically) to make the sure thing money with his size, athleticism, and yes... speed. He was one of those deceptively fast players because he was so tall And athletic he looked to be gliding along, meanwhile leaving would-be tacklers eating turf. He was a great returner in HS and I think if he would have gone the WR route he could have increased his stock with kickoff returns as well. QBs don’t return kicks in college so he never showcased those abilities.

However, he has made a good amount of coin so it’s hard to fault him and his handlers. Not very many folks come out of Jeannette, let alone West Jeannette, and make multi-millions (athlete or otherwise). I should know since I grew up in Jeannette and even West Jeannette for a bit in my early years.

...or get to drive a corvette to high school.

 

[NTOP]

You are off by a few decades...

Relevance. Keep chasing my brilliance. People mentioned Brian Davis . 1985. Collins was in the 1981 draft. And Davis never approached Dorsett's work.

 

[joeydavid]

Relevance. Keep chasing my brilliance. People mentioned Brian Davis . 1985. Collins was in the 1981 draft. And Davis never approached Dorsett's work.

I was talking about Jonathan Baldwin.

 

[PITTfanSD]

...or get to drive a corvette to high school.

I thought he drove a Nissan Z350? Maybe that was at O$U? I didn’t live in the area at that time.

 

[joeydavid]

I thought he drove a Nissan Z350? Maybe that was at O$U? I didn’t live in the area at that time.

What didn't he drive at tO$U?

The vette was an tO$U booster (ted)

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Pryor was very good in both sports! I watched in person both PIAA Championship games in football and b-ball. He “could” have developed into an excellent basketball player but as others have indicated and I heard from sources back at that time he was pushed towards football (QB specifically) to make the sure thing money with his size, athleticism, and yes... speed. He was one of those deceptively fast players because he was so tall And athletic he looked to be gliding along, meanwhile leaving would-be tacklers eating turf. He was a great returner in HS and I think if he would have gone the WR route he could have increased his stock with kickoff returns as well. QBs don’t return kicks in college so he never showcased those abilities.

However, he has made a good amount of coin so it’s hard to fault him and his handlers. Not very many folks come out of Jeannette, let alone West Jeannette, and make multi-millions (athlete or otherwise). I should know since I grew up in Jeannette and even West Jeannette for a bit in my early years.

Good points, but our very own Rod Rutherford returned kicks.

 

[Tonyt66]

I think I'm going to hold off until he atleast gets to his junior year and get another whole year in both sports behind him because he'll still grow a little more until then for me to give an accurate assessment of him.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

...or get to drive a corvette to high school.

Always love the NCAA. Pryor, who's parents did not have two nickels to rub together, and #1 recruit in the country, is driving a spanking brand new Corvette from the local auto dealer, who just happens to be a Ohio State booster, and they seem to just dismiss this. Yet he gets a free tattoo and sells his jersey and that is what they go after.

 

[PharMorNightStocker]

I think he made the safe decision. And, it seemed like those around him pushed him to that decision. And, he made the safe money that those around him told him that he would make.

I find it hard to fault the guy for going down the football route. He was an excellent QB at OSU, was taken high enough in that supplemental draft, made good cash while playing two pro positions.

He was not a safe basketball prospect. The NBA was not a guarantee for him like the NFL really was. He was an upside prospect that had great athleticism and point forward type skills. He needed work on his skill game but had athleticism to compensate.

It is a lot harder to make it in the NBA with what he had in that sport as a high school senior than to make it in the NFL with he had in that sport as a high school senior.

You see guys like DeJuan become college All-Americans in basketball and DeJuan did not quite make the money playing basketball that Terrelle did playing football. Herb Pope was better than both of them back then and made fractional money as a pro compared to either of them.

Agreed. It's so easy for people to say what someone would have been if they didn't actually follow through and do it. They love to glorify the unknown - makes for a compelling story. If Kazeon Pugh blew out an ACL his senior year of high school and decided to quit football, he "would have been one of the all-time Pitt greats at linebacker." If Jurkovec's arms fell off his last game at Pine Richland, he would have been the next Dan Marino. Etc., etc., etc.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

Agreed. It's so easy for people to say what someone would have been if they didn't actually follow through and do it. They love to glorify the unknown - makes for a compelling story. If Kazeon Pugh blew out an ACL his senior year of high school and decided to quit football, he "would have been one of the all-time Pitt greats at linebacker." If Jurkovec's arms fell off his last game at Pine Richland, he would have been the next Dan Marino. Etc., etc., etc.

Some people in the Pittsburgh media were comparing Jurkovec to Marino. Mike White and Mark Madden were two of them.

 

[prez41]

Some people in the Pittsburgh media were comparing Jurkovec to Marino. Mike White and Mark Madden were two of them.

Madden is great for hockey. Listening to him on anything else, especially college sports, is a monumental waste of time and brain cells.

 

[NTOP]

I was talking about Jonathan Baldwin.

I didn't see anything about Baldwin. He was a good athlete, but I wouldn't put him at Pryor's level, let alone Collins or a few others. I think he would have been a terrific WR from the start...Randy Moss-style??

 

[joeydavid]

I didn't see anything about Baldwin. He was a good athlete, but I wouldn't put him at Pryor's level, let alone Collins or a few others. I think he would have been a terrific WR from the start...Randy Moss-style??

6'5" 4.40 forty 42 inch vertical at 230 pounds. First round draft pick. He was also great on the court. #13 recruit in the nation.

Both were fab 5 ballers but Baldwin was a much better shooter.

 

[TheChair]

6'5" 4.40 forty 42 inch vertical at 230 pounds. First round draft pick. He was also great on the court. #13 recruit in the nation.

Both were fab 5 ballers but Baldwin was a much better shooter.

Baldwin was not that highly ranked as a basketball player. He did have some potential though.

Pryor was just as fast over 40 yards, jumped just as high if not more high, weighed just as much if not more, was a legit basketball star in a way that Baldwin was not and was certainly the top HS QB in the country that year.

I think Jonathan was an absolutely tremendous athlete. Certainly of the top level caliber. But he did not quite have the overall athleticism that Pryor had. Pryor had all of the same physical gifts, if not more, but also had more coordination/fluidity. And, it did translate much better for him into basketball than it did for Jonathan.

We can argue all day if Terrelle would have made the NBA and better money there, but he certainly was a guy that would go to a Pitt (who was a perennial top 10-15 school at that point) or UConn and start for 2-3 years. Jonathan had Big East level athleticism on the basketball court but the skill was not the same. He was much more of a project than Terrelle was on the basketball floor. He may have only been a reserve in top level college basketball dependent upon how he developed.

The guy that came out of Aliquippa that probably would have been a very good college basketball player if he concentrated more on it was Darrelle Revis. He had a lot of skill and top level athleticism. He came out for the team at Pitt as a freshman (I think) and the football coaches convinced him to drop it pretty quick (which was a great decision/great advice honestly).

 

[joeydavid]

Baldwin was not that highly ranked as a basketball player. He did have some potential though.

Pryor was just as fast over 40 yards, jumped just as high if not more high, weighed just as much if not more, was a legit basketball star in a way that Baldwin was not and was certainly the top HS QB in the country that year.

I think Jonathan was an absolutely tremendous athlete. Certainly of the top level caliber. But he did not quite have the overall athleticism that Pryor had. Pryor had all of the same physical gifts, if not more, but also had more coordination/fluidity. And, it did translate much better for him into basketball than it did for Jonathan.

We can argue all day if Terrelle would have made the NBA and better money there, but he certainly was a guy that would go to a Pitt (who was a perennial top 10-15 school at that point) or UConn and start for 2-3 years. Jonathan had Big East level athleticism on the basketball court but the skill was not the same. He was much more of a project than Terrelle was on the basketball floor. He may have only been a reserve in top level college basketball dependent upon how he developed.

The guy that came out of Aliquippa that probably would have been a very good college basketball player if he concentrated more on it was Darrelle Revis. He had a lot of skill and top level athleticism. He came out for the team at Pitt as a freshman (I think) and the football coaches convinced him to drop it pretty quick (which was a great decision/great advice honestly).

Baldwin was 3rd in state in the 100. He ran a 10.94 in the 100. Even though it wasn't a focus of his after his sophomore year- he still had multiple D-1 offers in hoops. I agree about the project comment but that probably wouldn't be the case had he focused on hoops. JB was a better shooter than TP was in high school.

Your comments make a good argument either way but it's still debatable.

 

[Pittisit4me]

You could argue and I would that Pryor wasn't even the best athlete in his class.

You could try to argue it, but, that would make you really stupid!