COLUMBUS -- Asked what he admires most about Jacory Harris' game, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor pointed to the Miami quarterback's ability to throw the ball deep. Can Pryor throw that deep pass, too? "It's pretty good," Pryor said. "I worked on it a lot. I've got a good spiral now. He throws a good one and I throw...
COLUMBUS -- Asked what he admires most about Jacory Harris' game, Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor pointed to the Miami quarterback's ability to throw the ball deep. Can Pryor throw that deep pass, too?
"It's pretty good," Pryor said. "I worked on it a lot. I've got a good spiral now. He throws a good one and I throw a good one, and we'll let it rest at that."
So they can both fling it. They're both juniors. Both came in with a lot of hype, Pryor as the No. 1 recruit in the 2008 recruiting class, Harris in the same class as the quarterback of the No. 1 high school team in the nation, Miami Northwestern. Both played early, Pryor taking over as a starter four games into his freshman season, Harris splitting time as a freshman, then taking the job as a sophomore.
That's about it. When No. 2 Ohio State plays host to No. 12 Miami on Saturday, no one will be confusing the quarterbacks.
"Terrelle is a guy who, if you give him the opportunity to run, he'll kind of take that and make you pay," OSU senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa said. "I think Jacory is a guy who wants to sit back there. He'll throw the pass even with the opportunity to run. That's just his style, the way he wants to sit back there and throw. I don't think there's too much similar, but they're both good quarterbacks."
The difference in the styles could make all the difference. Pryor ran 162 times for 779 yards last season. Harris ran 48 times for minus-219 yards. A year ago, OSU coaches were asked if Pryor ran too much. Now, is it possible in Pryor's quest to mature that he may not run enough? No, Pryor said, that won't happen.
He has talked many times of his efforts to become a more complete quarterback, and not just a runner, but he won't abandon what he does so well. He will study the defense longer before he takes off, and he may be more judicious about choosing his spots. He said the coaches may call fewer running plays for him. He ran eight times against Marshall for 17 yards. But taking off when things break down? Absolutely.
View full sizeTerrelle Pryor's record as the Buckeyes' starting QB is 20-4.
"My goal is still to get over 1,000 yards rushing," Pryor said. "That's my goal, to move the chains, and we could still possibly get that many yards.
"I'll always be able to run. That's who I am."
And that's just not who Harris is.
Harris threw for 3,352 yards a year ago, compared to Pryor's 2,094 passing yards, and he is in the top 10 on Miami's all-time list of most major passing categories after just two seasons.
"He's a great passer first," OSU safeties coach Paul Haynes said. "So first of all, he wants to get the ball downfield to his guys."
While Pryor built on an MVP performance in the Rose Bowl in his first game against Marshall last week, Harris was trying to get past his performance in a Capital One Bowl loss to Wisconsin. Harris told reporters in Miami, he's better "as a team player, more of a leader, more vocal.
"I know that's the past and we want to forget about those things," Harris said, "but mistakes help you learn from what happened."
Both made their share last year, Harris throwing 17 interceptions against 24 touchdowns, while Pryor threw 11 picks and 18 touchdowns.
"I know he went through some of the troubles I went through, going after the big play and getting yourself in trouble," Pryor said. "So I can relate to him from that standpoint."
Harris is 6-4 and 200 pounds, plenty big, but not on Pryor's level. So it's no surprise what impresses him most about Pryor.
"His size," Harris said. "To be a quarterback that big and have the athletic ability he has -- he's 6-6, 235, runs a 4.33 -- you don't see that around too often. I think his size is something that sets him apart from a lot of people."
Pryor and Harris have become texting friends, introduced by Miami defensive tackle Marcus Forston, whom Pryor befriended at a high school all-star game. They most recently talked briefly three days ago, though Pryor didn't want to get too friendly this week.
"It's hard to talk when you're about to play," Pryor said. "I don't want any soft feelings in the back of my mind."
Both know what the other is going through and know what's at stake. Harris and Pryor are among the best quarterbacks in the country. Both will hold the game in their hands. But Harris doesn't have the size or speed to be Pryor. And even if he can throw the deep ball and has come a long way in his understanding of the game, Pryor realizes he doesn't have to sit in the pocket and try to be Harris.