In case you haven't already heard, Terrelle Pryor, the nation's #1 prep quarterback (and arguably the best overall high school athlete) ended his recruitment by committing to the Ohio State Buckeyes today.  The commitment itself was rather anticlimactic, as it became increasingly clear throughout the week that Ohio State was his team of choice.

The commitment itself elevates the 2008 recruiting class from great to dominating, and the Buckeyes have probably only had one commitment ever that challenges the magnitude of this: Greg Oden.  Oden & Co. only stuck around for one year and forever changed the face of Buckeye basketball.  Pryor will be in Columbus for at least three years, but he will need the help of Adams, Brewster, Posey, and the rest of the '08ers to take Buckeye football to a higher level (in other words, erase the stereotype that Ohio State football is for old men).

As if that load weren't enough, Pryor may also be the man to bring the Big Ten out of it's recent mediocrity (in addition to Rich Rodriguez).  It won't happen immediately, considering that the Buckeyes return 20 starters and the only time Pryor will see the field next season will be in the second half of the Youngstown State and Troy games.  By the time Boeckman graduates and Henton realizes he can't compete, however, the offense will be as dynamic (if not moreso) than anything Urban Meyer ever threw together.  Assuming the class of '08 studs pan out as expected, the offense will have at least three guys capable of taking over a game at any point (Pryor, Adams, Brewster) and at least two additional gamebreakers (Saine, Posey) in two seasons.  Quite frankly, lack of freakish athleticism is no longer an excuse for not winning championships in Columbus.  It will come down to the players' mental fortitude/physical development and coaching that adapts to the talent (the former remains to be seen, the latter I have no doubt will occur).

As far as immediate impacts, however, people will have to be patient.  People tend to forget that Todd Boeckman is still this team's starting quarterback, and Antonio Henton is a third year sophomore backup, both of whom have much more expansive knowledge of the system than Pryor.  In saying that, though, there's no way Pryor doesn't see the field next season, and he very well may get snaps in specific games.  Teaching Pryor as a freshman by forcing him to sit would be about as ridiculous as the Cleveland Cavaliers having LeBron James come off the bench as a rookie; both have (had) the talent to play immediately, and sitting them would be detrimental to the team.

I don't like to make overzealous statements, but it's hard not to believe at this point that Terrelle Pryor will forever change the face of Buckeye football.  He's not necessarily a savior, because the program is far from needing saved, but his presence will definitely change Buckeye football for the better.

By the way, if you have not listened to Coach Tressel's teleconference on the Pryor signing, do so now.