Maxwell-Sportlink Award

Terrelle Pryor, Jeannette Senior High School

Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette Senior High School in Pittsburgh was named the Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AA Player of the Year. The Maxwell Football Club tonight joins with SportsLink, Inc., sponsors of the U.S. Army Bowl, to honor Terrelle as the National Quarterback of the Year.

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote: “Some are calling the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder from Jeannette the best football talent to hail from Pennsylvania since Tony Dorsett sprang from Aliquippa in the early 1970s.”

As a senior, Pryor rolled up 3,691 yards in total offense, split almost equally between running (1,901 yards) and passing (1,790 yards), as he led the Jayhawks to a perfect 16-0 season and a PIAA championship.

He accounted for an astounding 60 touchdowns from scrimmage, rushing for 36 touchdowns, passing for 23 and adding one more on a pass reception. On defense, he had eight sacks and four pass interceptions.

Pryor was a three-time All-State selection. As a senior, he was named to the “Fabulous 22” team by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the “Terrific 25” by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Both publications selected Pryor as their Player of the Year.

The Scout.com website compared Pryor to Vince Young, the former University of Texas quarterback who won the 2005 Maxwell Award as College Player of the Year. Young is now the starting quarterback for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.

“Pryor has great size and good quickness and speed,” wrote the Scout.com talent evaluators. “He shows a good arm and great athletic ability in the pocket. He is a Vince Young type of signal caller in that he is very dangerous in the open field because he has the ability to make a move or run right through would-be tacklers. As a passer, Pryor shows a good arm and can throw with accuracy and touch.”

As a junior, Pryor rushed for 1,676 yards on 197 attempts, an 8.7 yard average. He passed for 1,732 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also scored 29 touchdowns, including one as a pass receiver. He was a first-team All-Conference selection and the Post-Gazette named Pryor its Player of the Year.

“I have great vision and can use my athleticism if I have to,” Pryor was quoted as saying. “But you’re never perfect and every time I step onto the field, I’m trying to get better and better.”

Pryor has been recruited by dozens of major colleges including Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State, LSU and Florida. He also excels in basketball, averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots a game for the Jeannette High team. His goal is to play both football and basketball in college.

“I’d like to try and do both,” he said. “We’ll see.”

For more information about the Maxwell-Sportslink award, see our press release.