Terrelle Pryor’s ban from Ohio State over; AD welcomes him back

Terrelle Pryor’s five-year ban from Ohio State finally ended on Tuesday, leading to the school’s athletic director to welcome back the former Buckeyes quarterback.

Pryor attended Ohio State from 2008-2011, entering the school as one of the nation’s most heralded recruits and leaving as a rule breaker. Pryor and teammates traded memorabilia for free tattoos from a Columbus tattoo parlor, which constituted NCAA violations for impermissible benefits. Pryor and four teammates were suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season, so Pryor decided to leave school and enter the NFL’s supplemental draft instead.

As part of moving beyond his college career and going pro, Pryor’s lawyer requested a letter from Ohio State that stated the quarterback would not be allowed to play at all during the 2011 season and that he would be banned from the program for five years. That letter helped show the NFL that Pryor was out of college options and resulted in them allowing him to enter the supplemental draft.

The implications of the ban meant Pryor was not allowed to have contact with recruits or players in the program; be around the athletic facility; or accept free tickets to games. Now that the five-year ban is over, Pryor can work out at Ohio State during the offseason if he chooses and also appear on the sidelines for Buckeyes games.

Pryor would be welcomed back by Ohio State AD Gene Smith.

“It’s over, it’s great,” Smith said Tuesday to Cleveland.com at Big Ten Media Days. “He’d be welcomed back with open arms. He’s a grown man now.”

Smith did not even know that Pryor’s ban had ended.

As of last year, Pryor said he was interested in having a good association with Ohio State in the future.

“Absolutely. It’s going to be on Coach Urban if he wants me to. But I love this place,” Pryor said, making note of the program’s new head coach, Urban Meyer.

Pryor also expressed disappointment in 2013 about the ban.

Pryor may have fallen short of his goal of winning a national championship at Ohio State, but he still led the program to plenty of success, including a 12-1 season and Sugar Bowl win in 2010. Now he’s transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver with the Cleveland Browns and is doing so well that the team has installed plays for him.

Hopefully we’ll be able to see him on the Buckeyes sidelines during the fall.