Terrelle Pryor Accepted Into NFL Draft

By Christine Thomasos , Christian Post Reporter

August 18, 2011|4:19 pm

The NFL has announced that it will let Terrelle Pryor join the upcoming draft on Monday, after the NCAA suspended the former Ohio State University quarterback for receiving unethical gifts while playing on the team.

Pryor, who allegedly drove eight cars during his college career, was awaiting the NFL’s decision about his ability to join the supplemental draft on Monday. Although the NFL announced that they would allow the QB to participate in the draft, it also decided to maintain the NCAA ruling of suspending Pryor for the first five games.

During his five game suspension, the former OSU QB will not be allowed to practice and will receive no pay. In a statement on Thursday, the NFL explained its decision to maintain the NCAA ruling from the QB’s college career.

“Pryor made decisions that undermine the integrity of the eligibility rules for the NFL Draft. Those actions included failing to cooperate with the NCAA and hiring an agent in violation of NCAA rules, which resulted in Ohio State declaring him ineligible to continue playing college football,” the statement said.

“Pryor then applied to enter the NFL after the regular draft. Pryor had accepted at the end of the 2010 college football season a suspension for the first five games of the 2011 season for violating NCAA rules. Pryor will be ineligible to practice prior to or play in the first five games of the NFL regular season after he signs.”

David Cornwell, Pryor’s attorney, said he was pleased with the decision which he hoped would change NCAA policies.

“Personally, I hope this causes everyone to pause and conclude that we must challenge the NCAA on its 'amateurism' rules,” Cornway said. “Terrelle is going to the NFL because the NCAA mandated that he feed their families, but he could not feed his own."

Aside from Pryor, CB Torez Jones from Western Carolina, RB Caleb King from Georgia Tech, DE Keenan Mace from Lindenwood University, DE Michael McAdoo from North Carolina and S Tracy Wilson from Northern Illinois will all be included in the draft on Monday.