'10 QB - Nick Montana (Washington Verbal) - Page 27 - ScarletBuckeye

OSUBasketballJunkie · 06-11-2009, 02:58 PM

Dispatch

Quote:

OSU football: Top QB prospect passes on Buckeyes

Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:25 AM
By Tim May

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Blue-chip quarterback recruit Nick Montana committed to Washington over a host of other schools this week. But in regards to Ohio State, he said the presence of Terrelle Pryor did not dissuade him.

"It still would have been a good situation for me either way," Montana said yesterday.

From Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif., he saw the rebuilding Washington program as a better fit. The Huskies have a new coach in Steve Sarkisian, who worked Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer during his time as quarterbacks coach at Southern California. All three are in the NFL.

"Having what I believe to be the best coaching staff in the country, UW is a place that is on the rise," said Montana, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana. "And I'm excited about being a Husky and part of the team.

"Ohio State is a great place. It's hard to pass up an opportunity like that. But I just felt my best opportunity was in Washington."

Recruiting analyst Bill Kurelic took Montana at his word in regards to Pryor, who became the starter as a freshman last year.

"I think Terrelle Pryor was a huge factor in recruiting last year," Kurelic said, recalling how highly rated prospect Tajh Boyd changed his mind from Ohio State to Clemson in the closing days. (The Buckeyes then signed little-known Kenny Guiton out of the Houston area.)

"But I think every year Pryor is at Ohio State, his impact diminishes in terms of making it harder for Ohio State to get a quarterback," Kurelic said.

Jeremy Crabtree of Rivals.com isn't so sure.

"There is no question that any time you have an impact guy who is already entrenched, regardless of whether you think he's going to be there just two more years or three more years, quarterbacks are competitive guys, and they want to get on the field as quickly as possible," Crabtree said. "A lot of kids don't see that immediate opportunity to do that at Ohio State right now, in terms of quarterback.

"That might be scary to some guys, but I think in the end there is going to be somebody who will be up to that challenge."

Will it be Cincinnati Moeller's Andrew Hendrix? He's the only other quarterback to whom Ohio State has offered a scholarship for the 2010 recruiting class. He made an unofficial visit yesterday after visiting Notre Dame on Monday.

"He might make a few more visits, but I would be extremely surprised if he doesn't go to Ohio State or Notre Dame," Kurelic said. "Whichever one he'll pick is anybody's guess right now.

"But I will say that Hendrix seems to be looking at Pryor's presence as somewhat of a positive. The way he sees it, he could redshirt his freshman year, which of course would be 2010, and then his second year he could be Pryor's backup with three years to play. And that's if Pryor stays through his senior year."