Steelers QB Charlie Batch Advises Terrelle Pryor on Recruiting Process

[mesaSteeler]

Steelers QB Charlie Batch Advises Terrelle Pryor on Recruiting Process
Posted Jan 15th 2008 8:38PM by Michael David Smith
Filed under: Steelers, Pittsburgh, High School

Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch has another job, besides just holding the clipboard and wondering if Ben Roethlisberger is going to crash his motorcycle again.

It turns out that Batch also serves as an adviser to Terrelle Pryor, a quarterback from Jeannette, Pennsylvania, who is widely recognized as the top high school football player in the country. Pryor writes in an online diary at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette web site:

I've known Charlie for a couple years. His brother dates my aunt. Charlie is kind of part of my family now. We talk. I asked him if he would want to go on my visits, and he said sure.

He'll just help me because he's been through this recruiting process before. Just from talking to him, I trust him a lot. When I go on these visits, I think he'll know who's telling the truth just by sitting there and listening.

Batch is a smart guy who knows the football business, and I think it's great that Batch is able to help Pryor through the process, since football recruits often have people hanging around who don't have their best interests in mind. But I feel pretty confident in saying that Batch won't be steering Pryor to his own alma mater. Eastern Michigan isn't quite the kind of program that gets players like Pryor.

[RevBillyC]

Although I don't think it's still on his list, Florida would be a fantastic fit for Pryor - get some limited playing time as a freshman spelling Tebow, then when Tim Terrific goes to the NFL, start in year 2.

He'll wind up at Michigan, however.

[Diamond Dave]

He's going to burn out, quickly. He is looking for the best deal, period.

[RevBillyC]

He's going to burn out, quickly.

Possible, but if he can keep his head on straight & his ego in check, he could wind up being one the best college QB's ever.
BUT
Looking further down the road, his best NFL position might be as a defensive back.

[LetMePlay]

Dont rule out Texas yet either. They pay their players well and they let WRs play QB.

Seriously, I dont think he has the arm to play QB. Right now he is a man playing with boys. In college he will be fine in the right offense.

[ConnecticutDan]

His arm strength is not an issue. I watched the WPIAL game and the Army senior game and he absolutely can sling it. In teh ARmy game he rolled out to the right and threw the ball downfield 30 yards to a WR who ran left in an X pattern with the other WR. Pryor hit the kid in teh end zone for a TD in stride. That's a 50 yard pass in the air. I think he can play QB at the college level now and after 4-5 years, maybe the pro level depending on how he fills out and progresses.

Can you imagine him playing DB at 6'6" with his speed, agility, and quickness. He would revolutionize the position.

[LetMePlay]

His arm strength is not an issue. I watched the WPIAL game and the Army senior game and he absolutely can sling it. In teh ARmy game he rolled out to the right and threw the ball downfield 30 yards to a WR who ran left in an X pattern with the other WR. Pryor hit the kid in teh end zone for a TD in stride. That's a 50 yard pass in the air. I think he can play QB at the college level now and after 4-5 years, maybe the pro level depending on how he fills out and progresses.

Can you imagine him playing DB at 6'6" with his speed, agility, and quickness. He would revolutionize the position.

I have seem some amazing high school player amount to nothing so I tend not to get too excited about the next great one. He does have some stunning physical ability but will he the same player even in college? I'm not sure he has the discipline in his game to even make it the college level without tons of work. Will he do the work? I have no idea. When you have the size/speed he has you dont have to do anything to dominate the high school game. In college he will have to do some work and may even have to go to a class every now and then.

[Steelerman]

Can you imagine him playing DB at 6'6" with his speed, agility, and quickness. He would revolutionize the position.

I think putting him at DB would be a fine waste of an offensive machine. He could be the clone of Randy Moss/Terrell Owens at WR, minus the personalities of course.

[Steelerman]

In college he will have to do some work and may even have to go to a class every now and then.

He has a 3.4 GPA in school right now.

[Steel Dino]

He recently cancelled another visit to Penn State and is scheduled to met again up at Michigan...

With Rodriquez installing a WVU type offense there, he would be smart to sign with the Wolverines.

[JohnnyO]

It turns out that Batch also serves as an adviser to Terrelle Pryor, a quarterback from Jeannette, Pennsylvania

Good. Charlie is a class act.
My take is that Rodriguez will pull out all the stops to get him to Michigan, which would be an okay place for him.

[tapeANaspirin2it]

He recently cancelled another visit to Penn State and is scheduled to met again up at Michigan...

With Rodriquez installing a WVU type offense there, he would be smart to sign with the Wolverines.

unless he wants to be an NFL QB, then he'd go to a school that will actually teach him how to play QB and not just run a gimmick offense. Kordell and Vick flamed out, and Vince Young looks close behind. The NFL's obsessions with the running QB could be diminished quite a bit in the near future.

[Big Fella]

Ypsi to Ann Arbor: 11 miles.

The Prior sweepstakes is essentially a 2 horse race at this point.

The trend I have noticed with many OSU insiders is a diminishing confidence TP will come. Michigan insiders are still calling him an OSU lean. Essentially, both sides are claiming he's going to the other.

My guess, its a 50-50 right now. Charlie is fond of Ann Arbor and the maize and blue, from what I've been told.

[LetMePlay]

He has a 3.4 GPA in school right now.

He has potential. Not that he his dumb but thats not his core GPA. He also took the SAT but I'm not sure how he did. Who know? He could be awesome.

[Steelerman]

Pryor dismisses Pitt report

By Kevin Gorman
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 17, 2008

Jeannette All-America quarterback Terrelle Pryor on Wednesday night dismissed news reports that he would visit Pitt this weekend.
"Pitt's out, period. I won't go there, for sure," Pryor said. "I get false stuff said about me all the time. I'm used to it."

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Pryor, rated as the nation's top prospect by several scouting services, said he was asked by a relative to visit with Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt on Friday.

"I said I'd come down and talk to him," Pryor said. "Then, everyone started calling me today. They're out of it, so it doesn't matter."

Pryor drew notice by attending the Pitt-Georgetown men's basketball game Monday, where he was serenaded by chants of "We want Pryor" from the Oakland Zoo student section, and one fan tried to get him to check an open box next to his name on a handmade poster.

"I expected it. Everywhere I go, they do the same thing," said Pryor, who added that he was only there in support of former AAU teammate DeJuan Blair. "I was there to watch 'Big Fella.' They're still trying to recruit me. They're just doing their job. That's no knock on them."

Pryor said he plans to take an official visit to Michigan this weekend, instead of visiting Pitt. There were reports that Pryor would visit Penn State this weekend, but he said he won't take a trip there, either.

"That was never scheduled by me," Pryor said. "They asked me to come on the 18th, and I never answered. I've been there so many times, I don't need to see anything."

Pryor already took an official visit to Ohio State and said he counts Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana State, Oregon and Penn State among his finalists.

"I want to play in a college town, a facility that has 100,000 and is packed," Pryor said. "That's how I want to do it."

[Diamond Dave]

Well, at least he's humble.

[jasen@cardiostack]

sounds like a a-hole in that article

[Steelerman]

Maybe he should go play for Texas. That's the only state large enough that would have room for his ego.

[ConnecticutDan]

I've never met him but I have spoken to people that have and they all said he's very down to earth and easy to talk to. He's the #1 recruit in the country and he's 17 or 18 years old, give the kid a break. If given a choice between playing in front of 25,000 - 35,000 people at Heinz or 100,000 in Michigan, Ohio State, or Beaver Stadium, I think the choice is obvious.

[FistfullofRings]

What in that article suggests a big ego, exactly?

[Diamond Dave]

What in that article suggests a big ego, exactly?

Maybe the idea that he expects people to chant his name and won't consider any school that doesn't have a 100,000 seat stadium?

[Tobe]

Maybe the idea that he expects people to chant his name and won't consider any school that doesn't have a 100,000 seat stadium?

I thought the same thing. Plus, he came across as a giant asshole. "Pitt's out, period!" I guess I would never shit where I ate and he just shit on the home town team. He didn't show PSU any love either. Sheesh, it's too bad the NFL has rules against players going from HS to the pros because Pryor seems ready to be the next great NFL QB, in his mind.

I bet he flames out.

[Steelerman]

What in that article suggests a big ego, exactly?

"That was never scheduled by me," Pryor said. "They asked me to come on the 18th, and I never answered. I've been there so many times, I don't need to see anything."


Nope. No ego here, either.

[ConnecticutDan]

Was there any chance in hell that he would go to Penn State? I mean seriously, this kid's skills have no match whatsoever with Penn State football or an 80 year old head coach.

And getting back to Pitt, I think one of the worst moves their football program ever made was by tearing down Pitt Stadium and playing at Heinz. The students can't just walk up to the gate and the result is a half empty stadium for Big East football. It's a disgrace. The move de-balled the football program. They sell tickets now for $10 a pop for Pitt football and if it rains or if it's a little chilly half the crowd doesn't show up. If they renovated Pitt Stadium and even expanded it their football program would be in a much better position. Trying to get the #1 recruit to play for your team is an uphill climb when the home games play to a half empty house.

This was a great stadium

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/54/PittStadiumWalk.jpg/300px-PittStadiumWalk.jpg

[Tobe]

Was there any chance in hell that he would go to Penn State? I mean seriously, this kid's skills have no match whatsoever with Penn State football or an 80 year old head coach.

And getting back to Pitt, I think one of the worst moves their football program ever made was by tearing down Pitt Stadium and playing at Heinz. The students can't just walk up to the gate and the result is a half empty stadium for Big East football. It's a disgrace. The move de-balled the football program. They sell tickets now for $10 a pop for Pitt football and if it rains or if it's a little chilly half the crowd doesn't show up. If they renovated Pitt Stadium and even expanded it their football program would be in a much better position. Trying to get the #1 recruit to play for your team is an uphill climb when the home games play to a half empty house.

This was a great stadium

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/54/PittStadiumWalk.jpg/300px-PittStadiumWalk.jpg

Al they had to do was get rid of the wooden bleachers and it would still all be good. I loved watching games at old Pitt Stadium.

[Tobe]

Oh, and Pryor's still a dick. LOL.

[RevBillyC]

Al they had to do was get rid of the wooden bleachers and it would still all be good. I loved watching games at old Pitt Stadium.


Facilities-wise, it was shitty. Nobody knows that better than I.

[ConnecticutDan]

Facilities-wise, it was shitty. Nobody knows that better than I.

Did you play football for Pitt?

I went out for Cross Country while there, didn't make the team, but still ran with a lot of the members of the team in the stadium. I used to run a lap on the track, up the stadium stairs, around the top of the stadium, back down the stairs for another lap, etc etc. Can't say I was ever in the lockler room, but the bones of that old stadium were something that should have been retained while freshening up everything else. That facade while approaching the gate was intimidating. Romanesque. Pitt blew it. They got rid of a landmark.

[GRBman]

Maybe the idea that he expects people to chant his name and won't consider any school that doesn't have a 100,000 seat stadium?

From what we're hearing now, Michigan and OSU have the inside track but don't count Florida and LSU out just yet. Both stadiums are close to 100,000 but are significantly louder than the 100,000+ seated at Michigan and Ohio State. Too bad Prior won't get to experience them on game day because the numbers really don't tell the story when it comes to Tiger Stadium and The Swamp...

[Max Power]

Having someone like CB help Pryor can be nothing less than Truely Helpful. Some one to filter out the BS when the most important decision in his life is happening is great! Hell of a nice guy that CB.

Oh and another thing - the move from Pitt Stadium was one of the very worst moves ever. I don't care if the stadium was about to fall in on itself. It was a great place to watch a Collage Game. I miss the walk up Cardiac Hill.

[thatrain]

What a douche. I hope he flames out.

[Diamond Dave]

Was there any chance in hell that he would go to Penn State? I mean seriously, this kid's skills have no match whatsoever with Penn State football or an 80 year old head coach.

And getting back to Pitt, I think one of the worst moves their football program ever made was by tearing down Pitt Stadium and playing at Heinz. The students can't just walk up to the gate and the result is a half empty stadium for Big East football. It's a disgrace. The move de-balled the football program. They sell tickets now for $10 a pop for Pitt football and if it rains or if it's a little chilly half the crowd doesn't show up. If they renovated Pitt Stadium and even expanded it their football program would be in a much better position. Trying to get the #1 recruit to play for your team is an uphill climb when the home games play to a half empty house.



No, no - it's an honor to be able to play in the same stadium as the Steelers. It would be so unfair to take that away. That's what I keep hearing about the high school games.

[ltp74]

Pitt Basketball both men's and women's wouldn't be where they are now if they still played in the Fieldhouse or Civic Arena, which is where they would be playing if Pitt Stadium wasn't torn down and the Pete built in it's place.

[Dixon Hand]

Pryor wants to play two sports - football and basketball. Rodriguez may have some pull on the football field, but there is no talk from Michigan people with regards to the hoops. Ohio state has been pretty much quiet about basketball as well. They get a ton of good prospects without worring about a scholarship player that would get hurt in football. Probably the only one who would open both doors would be Penn State. It's a shame they don't play basketball there!

[ConnecticutDan]

The Pete could have been built somewhere else. Could have been built wher the Field House was.

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Pryor wants to play two sports - football and basketball. Rodriguez may have some pull on the football field, but there is no talk from Michigan people with regards to the hoops. Ohio state has been pretty much quiet about basketball as well. They get a ton of good prospects without worring about a scholarship player that would get hurt in football. Probably the only one who would open both doors would be Penn State. It's a shame they don't play basketball there!

Penn State's actually having a good basketball season so far. They got a new coach a few years ago who completely changed their style of play and it took a few years to get the players to fit the system. It's an up tempo style focusing on the Guards. It's a style that kids like to play and PSU is starting to get better recruits. They actually got a kid that was also being recruited by Louisville and Kentucky.

I think basketball would actually be a positive for PSU in Pryor's recruitment. But football is his main concern, namely immediate playing time. That's something Penn State never guarantees to a recruit. Pryor would have to wait 2 or maybe 3 years to play QB at Penn State. That's why it's doubtful he'll go there.

[Tobe]

Penn State's actually having a good basketball season so far.

That usually happens when you haven't really played anyone yet. In the not so hot this year Big Ten, they've beaten Illinois and Northwestern - not exactly world beaters.

[SteelerFan448]

Pryor wants to play two sports - football and basketball. Rodriguez may have some pull on the football field, but there is no talk from Michigan people with regards to the hoops. Ohio state has been pretty much quiet about basketball as well. They get a ton of good prospects without worring about a scholarship player that would get hurt in football. Probably the only one who would open both doors would be Penn State. It's a shame they don't play basketball there!

He's pretty good at HS bball, but in college, he'd be just another tall player, nothing special. He will end up only playing football. I hope the best for him, but I get the vibe he is pretty full of himself right now. I question whether he is going to be able to keep his head on straight.

[FAB802]

A friend of mine sat by Pryor at the Michigan basketball game tonight. He got a UM hat signed by him.