The best prospects from high school do not always translate to the NFL, and former NFL lineman and current media analyst Ross Tucker gave one poignant example. His response to the best high school player he has ever seen will shock you.
He was asked the question on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” and Tucker did not hesitate.
Ross Tucker’s Pick for Best High School Football Player He’s Seen
“Who is the best high school football player you’ve EVER seen? Easy answer for me,” said Tucker’s post on X.
In the video on NFL Network’s broadcast, he shared his answer: “Terrelle Pryor. No hesitation whatsoever. Terrelle Pryor. Why? 6’6″, 240 [pounds]. Yeah. Playing quarterback in high school.”
Who is the best high school football player you’ve EVER seen?
Easy answer for me. pic.twitter.com/lE2wRizkpm
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) May 1, 2025
Pryor went to Jeannette High School in Pennsylvania and led his team, the Jayhawks, to its first-ever state championship in 2007. He was also the MVP of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a high school all-star game.
Tucker spoke to his sources and believed Pryor would have been a five-star recruit in several positions.
“He would have been recruited as a five-star at every position other than O-line. D-end, corner, safety — he ran a 4-3 at 6’6″, 240!”
Tucker brought up the last play from his state championship season to illustrate Pryor’s dominance.
“There are only three seconds left. They’re at the 40-yard line before halftime. They bring the backup quarterback in, okay? They put Pryor at receiver. Everybody in this stadium, Hershey Park Stadium, everybody knows what’s about to happen. They throw a Hail Mary to Pryor. There are three kids around him, OK? He jumps up. He catches it, and then he holds the ball. He holds the ball above his head like this [demonstrates].”
Pryor’s College and Professional Career Plagued by Controversy
Unfortunately, despite his on-field excellence, Pryor’s career was plagued by controversy. Pryor went to Ohio State, where he was the starting quarterback for three years. In 2010, Pryor, along with several other teammates, was suspended for five games for selling memorabilia. That scandal snowballed into what is known as “Tattoogate,” where the players received tattoos for autographs.
During the investigation, Pryor was also caught driving on a suspended license. The allegations forced head coach Jim Tressel to resign, and Pryor elected to skip his senior season to avoid further scrutiny.
This caused him to join the 2011 NFL supplemental draft, a draft for players who, due to various circumstances, were not eligible for the main NFL Draft. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round.
He was the starting quarterback for the Raiders in 2013, posting a 3-6 record as a starter before being benched for Matt McGloin. Pryor then played as both a wide receiver and a quarterback for eight other NFL franchises from 2015 to 2019.