Breaking News: Paterno to visit Terrelle Pryor

If you've ever worked for a newspaper or in another professional media setting, you'll get those stories once in a while that causes you to throw everything else aside. This is one of those stories. (I had planned some very nice fluff about a few former Penn State players, now on AAFL rosters.)
I'll have my own take on this later. But for now, The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting:

Paterno to visit nation’s top recruit Pryor
By Jeff McLane
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The closer is coming.

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is expected to travel to Jeannette, Pa. tomorrow to visit Terrelle Pryor, the nation's No. 1 overall high school recruit, according to a team source.

The 81-year-old icon will be joined by defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who has recruited Pryor since he was in the ninth grade. A 6-foot-6, 235-pound quarterback, Pryor has pared his choices down to four schools: Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon.

Pryor has taken official visits to only Ohio State and Michigan, although he has been to Penn State for a number of unofficial visits.

Still, the recruiting Web sites that track Pryor's every move have predicted the Parade national player of the year will choose between either the Buckeyes or the Wolverines. The Nittany Lions, though, still have their ace in the hole - Paterno.

The coach rarely visits recruits at this stage in his storied career. Whether he is too late, remains to be seen.

Pryor, who also plays basketball, will be in the Philadelphia area on Friday as Jeannette High plays Chester at Villanova at 7:30 p.m.

With speculation over his choice reaching a fever pitch, Pryor will announce his decision on national signing day next Wednesday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com.