In crowded DB class, Pryor ready to make mark early
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a recruiting class teeming with elite talent, it is arguably the most concentrated in the defensive backfield. The likes of five-stars Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade and four-star JUCO transfer Kendall Sheffield, who once was a five-star, have, rightfully so, been the center of much attention. But with this comes the reality that some attention-worthy recruits have been overlooked.
It’s there, somewhat on the class' periphery, where Isaiah Pryor comes into the fold.
The lone safety in the class, Pryor comes to Ohio State from the esteemed IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. His time there, coupled with the void created by the departure of All-American Malik Hooker and the fact he has enrolled already, makes it possible the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Pryor could contribute early on.
Pryor knows that, so despite the conversation about the Buckeyes’ talented recruiting class focusing away from him right now, he’s not too worried.
“I’m just here to work, get my degree, and here to play,” he said on Wednesday on the turf of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. “So they can forget about me if they want to, but they’re going to hear about me eventually.”
That be might soon.
“You also have Isaiah Pryor that's going to compete at the safety spot, as well,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said on Wednesday.
Meyer made that remark when speaking about the team’s need to fill the three vacancies in the secondary after its two starting cornerbacks — Gareon Conley and Marcus Lattimore — left for the NFL along with Hooker. The situation was similar two seasons ago, when the Buckeyes lost both starting safeties and cornerback Eli Apple to the draft.
Obviously, that’s a lot of talent to replace, but in the eyes of recruits, it’s a good problem to have. It means there’s an opportunity to possibly play early, and it means there’s institutional success that they might be able to benefit from.
“It just let’s me know that it’s a great DB program and made me want to be apart of something special,” Pryor said.
“This is ‘DB-U,’ ” Pryor added, a reference to the “Linebacker U” moniker Penn State has accrued over the years for consistently producing top-level players at the position.
Where Pryor finished his high-school career at, IMG Academy, is another place with institutional success. He is originally from Georgia, but finished up at IMG. Going up against highly touted recruits each day in practice and the college-like feel the school has, which includes being a couple hours away from his parents, has made his transition a little smoother, he said.
“That really prepares you for this college lifestyle, with the meetings and accountability and just making sure where you’re supposed to be on time,” he said. “It really helps.”
That’s not to say there hasn’t been challenges. Off the field, Pryor, who said he’s majoring in medical laboratory sciences and has interest in becoming a pathologist, did get lost on his first day of classes. The background on his phone is now his academic schedule and he downloaded the university's mobile app with a map to help remind him where things are.
On the field, he has spent time at both safety spots. Pryor said defensive coordinator Greg Schiano wants to see which works best for him. Asked to describe himself as a player, Pryor said he was "relentless, has "good ball skills" and "ready to play."
As for the first few workouts? It was “harder than what I was used to,” he said.
“But it’s not that bad,” he quickly added. “The guys help us get through it.”
Pryor has been committed to Ohio State for a while. In a class of 21, he was the sixth player to verbally commit, which came on July 27, 2015. He received an offer from Meyer after a camp early in his high-school career. It was around his third offer, he said.
Pryor toured places around the country. He had family ties to the Big Ten, with his father and older brother playing football at Iowa, and his grandma lived in Ohio for a stretch. Both played parts in Ohio State becoming his choice. Arriving at the facilities on the first day was "magical," he said.
“It’s just that I’ve always wanted to come here for a such long time," Pryor said, "and now that I’m finally here to do something with it, it just feels good."