The Ohio State Buckeyes waited for months to see if Terrelle Pryor’s Rose Bowl performance could be something to build on.
While the Spring Game isn’t a foolproof indication for what a team can expect, it can be reassuring to see that players haven’t taken a step back.
In Pryor’s case, coach Jim Tressel said he has continued to progress, even if he only was on the field for three series.
“I thought he was good,” Tressel said. “You have to play the hand that is dealt you. He knew he wasn’t going to play much and he knew he couldn’t go live on the run part of it, so he focused on what he could do. He worked on his footwork and coverage recognition, decision-making and so forth. I thought he did a fairly good job.”
The Buckeye quarterback didn’t impress at first, as the Scarlet team started three-and-out.
After a touchdown drive by the Gray, however, Pryor completed all four of his passes on a drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher.
“It was very impressive because we came out first drive and scored and I thought that was going to put an edge up for me on Terrelle,” freshman quarterback Kenny Guiton said. “But he basically said ‘Nah, nah come back to me.’ He drove them down the field and it looked good to me.”
Pryor finished the day 8-of-12 for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Guiton separating himself as backup
The only quarterback competition taking place for the Buckeyes recently has been for the backup job, and after the performances of Guiton and Joe Bauserman in the Spring Game, that competition could be closer than ever.
[Guiton] “looked awesome. He’s a great quarterback,” offensive lineman Jack Mewhort said. “I watched his high school film before he even came here and knew he would be amazing on the field someday. I don’t think anyone gave him enough credit and he proved himself out there today.”
When Guiton found Taurian Washington for a 45-yard, game-winning touchdown for his team, it was the culmination of an impressive spring.
“He played great today,” Washington said. “He proves himself every day in practice and his confidence has risen lately. He has played extremely well this spring and I think there are great things in the future for him.”
Bauserman, on the other hand, had a day he would like to forget. He threw two interceptions and finished six-of-15.
Spring game superstar
Taurian Washington’s career hasn’t gone the way he would have thought.
After catching a touchdown in his first game as a Buckeye, Washington has struggled with consistency and struggled to earn playing time.
But if there was ever a guy who could be relied on if all games were played in April, it would be Washington.
“I knew it was going to happen because T-Wash is a Spring Game legend around here,” Sanzenbacher said. “There was no denying that he was going to get into the end zone.”
Technically, Washington has caught five touchdowns as a Buckeye, but only one that really counts.
In last year’s Spring Game, he also caught two touchdowns, adding to his spring stardom.
“I don’t know what it is about the spring. I really don’t know,” Washington said. “I am just proud that I have come out and been successful every year during spring ball.”
Last season, Washington had a chance to finally make an impact when the Buckeyes started the season against Navy. Two dropped passes later, Washington didn’t earn many more opportunities to excel.
Although he contemplated transferring, Washington returned to OSU and hopes he can finally turn his super springs into a productive senior season.
“I’ve had a pretty successful spring,” Washington said. “I’m hoping it carries over into the fall.”
