Left for dead in the chase to lure Terrelle Pryor into its football program, head coach Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions have once again emerged as a contender for the top recruit from Jeannette, PA.

Multiple reports, specifically one from The Daily Collegian and another from the Philadelphia Inquirer, have stated that both Joe Paterno and Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley are heading to Jeannette, PA today, to visit Pryor.

Previous reports on Scout.com show Michigan and Ohio State emerging as front runners for Pryor, with Oregon also in consideration. Michigan and Oregon, both teams that run the spread offense, make a ton of sense, specifically the Wolverines, who recently hired spread offense genius Rich Rodriguez, while also losing QB standout Ryan Mallett, who transferred to Arkansas.

That leaves Penn State, a football-rich program with a fanbase desperately seeking a standout player to come in and help push the program back to elite status. Pryor, the 6’ 6” 225 pounder, not only shows speed and athletic ability, but a solid arm as well. He has drawn comparisons to Vince Young on a number of occasions.

There are also reports that QB Coach Jay Paterno and Offensive coordinator Galen Hall are fully prepared to implement a spread-like offense just for Pryor. Many critics will be quick to lash out at the Nittany Lions, stating that their offense is as vanilla as their uniforms. Before doing so, one should consider a few years ago, when Penn State completely changed its offense to revolve around the talents of Michael Robinson. Robinson, at 6’1” and approximately 230 lbs., was an athletic brick wall of muscle when he played quarterback for the Nittany Lions. A recent article on CNNSI further discusses this offensive plan, as Daryll Clark (currently at the top of the PSU QB depth chart) has the ability to run and pass, much like Robinson did during the 2005 season. It’s also worth noting that the 2005 Nittany Lions finished 11-1, ranked #3 in both the AP and Coaches poll, proving that Penn State has had success with this attack.

For the Nittany Lions and Paterno, this late visit to Pryor’s home town means a few different things in my mind. First and foremost, they want Pryor bad. That’s obvious. In fact, I read that Tom Bradley, one of Penn State’s best recruiters, has had his eye on Pryor since the young man was in ninth grade. Furthermore, one must consider this a blocking tactic. Not only would Penn State want Pryor for their own, but also the Nittany Lions would hate to have a conference rival like Ohio State or Michigan reel him in, especially considering that Pryor practically lives in their backyard. One must also keep in mind that the 81 year-old Paterno rarely ever makes trips to a recruit’s home, especially in recent years. This is most definitely a last ditch effort for Penn State to make a splash at the end of the recruiting season.

Some may argue that the Nittany Lions may have no shot because in the past, Penn State and Paterno often would keep their younger players on the bench, while playing the more seasoned seniors. In recent seasons, Penn State has changed that philosophy, most notably with the likes of talents Derrick Williams and Justin King, who were simply too good to keep off the field. If Pryor decided to surprise many and pick Penn State, he likely would see extended time on the field sooner rather than later.

Furthermore, some may point out the reports that Pryor ditched an official visit to Penn State to visit Michigan. While that may have happened, it likely doesn’t point to an elimination of Penn State from contention, but instead the fact that Pryor had already made multiple unofficial visits to Happy Valley. In fact, during the Notre Dame game weekend, part of the Penn State student section was heard chanting “We want Pryor”, likely signifying that the high school phenom was at Beaver Stadium and within earshot.

That brings us to one more unique point in the “Pryor Sweepstakes”. Terrelle Pryor also wants to play basketball, and not only does he want to play, but he’s pretty darn good. Scout.com has him listed as #34 overall. Whether each of these schools are willing to have Pryor play both sports, that remains to be seen. Certainly, that could help push Pryor’s decision in one direction. I can guarantee that Penn State basketball coach Ed DeChellis would welcome the athletic Pryor with open arms. The Nittany Lions basketball team has struggled in recent years, and while teams like Ohio State and Oregon have fared well as of late, DeChellis and Penn State would likely present Pryor with playing time immediately, while also feeding off his star quality.

We’re about a week away from Signing Day. Terrelle Pryor has gone on record saying he will wait until then to make his decision. Meanwhile, the world of college football (and basketball) waits with bated breath. While rumors will be rumors, it certainly appears that his decision likely will come down to Michigan, Oregon, Ohio State, and Penn State. Each of the four schools provides its own pluses and minuses. Oregon and Michigan have spread offenses intact, with QB Dennis Dixon on his way out and QB Ryan Mallett transferring. Ohio State has a class act in Jim Tressel leading the way, with a football program that has made it to two consecutive national title games. Meanwhile, Penn State is located in Pryor’s backyard, offering to implement a spread-like offense, along with a fanbase that would welcome him with open arms, and a coaching legend who not only isn’t ready to retire, but desperately wants to be on top again before he moves on.

While I still place Michigan as the favorite, one should now consider Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions as the dark horse to lure Pryor into Happy Valley. The still feisty Paterno is always chock full of energy, and ready for a new challenge. He shows it when he runs a number of miles each day in the early morning. Why should the pursuit of the #1 recruit in college football be any different? One thing is for sure, with today’s visit by Paterno and Bradley, the “Pryor Sweepstakes” just got that much more interesting.

Stay tuned.