In announcing his college choice yesterday, Jeannette High School quarterback Terrelle Pryor took off his jacket and unveiled a white Ohio State T-shirt.

Pryor's attire seemed appropriate because an Ohio State "redshirt" seems out of the question.

Pryor, one of the best players in Western Pennsylvania history, put an end to his recruiting saga when he signed with Ohio State yesterday. He chose the Buckeyes over Michigan, claiming he wasn't totally sure of his decision until yesterday morning. Penn State and Oregon were next in line.

Judging by comments from Pryor and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, Pryor won't be redshirted his first year at Ohio State. Although Todd Boeckman is the returning starter at quarterback for the Buckeyes, Pryor figures to see playing time. He is qualified academically to be eligible as a freshman.

"The thing you need to do as a coaching staff is get people on the field who can make plays and design things for what people are ready to do," Tressel said in a conference call yesterday afternoon. "Everyone is aware that [Pryor] has the kind of ability that once he understands the system and knows opposing defenses, he's going to have a chance to show his playmaking ability."

Pryor believes Ohio State will use him in a similar way the University of Florida used Tim Tebow when he was a freshman two years ago. Tebow was Chris Leak's backup, but Tebow still saw considerable action in games, mostly on quarterback runs. Tebow became the starter this past season and won the Heisman Trophy.

"I can guarantee that I'll work hard," said Pryor, ranked the No. 1 player in the country by some scouting services. "I'm going to try and win games for them whenever my number is called.

"[Tressel] explained to me that he's going to work me in how they used to with Tebow. That sounded good with me."

Pryor said he had trouble turning down Michigan. He easily could've been the Wolverines' starter because their top two quarterbacks from last year are gone. Chad Henne used up his eligibility and highly-touted freshman backup Ryan Mallett transferred to Arkansas because he didn't believe he would fit into Rich Rodriguez's spread option offense.

"I could've went to Michigan and possibly started," Pryor said. "I could've went to Penn State and fought for the starting job, or I could've went to Oregon and fought for a starting job.

"At Ohio State, you all know Boeckman is there. But it's a long season. There is a senior and I can learn from him. Whenever I get in there for some plays, I want to make something happen."

Pryor ran a similar version of Michigan's spread option at Jeannette. Pryor is 6 feet 6, 225 pounds, has excellent mobility and would seemingly be perfect for Michigan's offense.

But Tressel believes Pryor is a good fit for Ohio State's offense.

"The beautiful thing about what we have always tried to be is we've tried to be an offense that has just about every single thing in the playbook that you could possibly have," Tressel said. "Then you have to utilize your people for that."

Pryor was the first player in Pennsylvania high school football history to rush for more than 4,000 career yards and pass for more than 4,000.

When Tressel first saw film of Pryor a few years ago, he said it was obvious Pryor was "extraordinary."

"Terrelle has a passion to be a great dropback passer, and a play-action passer," Tressel said. "He's a guy who can obviously make plays with his feet, but we think his upside and future is tremendous."

Tressel has heard comparisons of Pryor and NFL quarterback Vince Young, who played at the University of Texas. But Tressel believes Pryor is a more polished passer at this stage of his career than Young. Tressel credited Jeannette coach Ray Reitz and assistant coach Roy Hall for developing Pryor as a passer.

"They ran a very diversified offense," Tressel said. "Maybe the biggest difference [between college and high school] isn't what he can do with the ball, but the people defending those balls. The game is much faster [in college], but I don't think the speed of the game will affect him because he's always played the game fast."

Although Pryor said he didn't definitely decide on Ohio State until yesterday morning, some teammates and acquaintances said Ohio State has been No. 1 on his list for some time.

Pryor was set to choose Ohio State at a news conference Feb. 6, but decided to delay his decision. Pryor claimed his father wanted him to take a more serious look at Penn State.

Pryor claimed Tressel was one of the main reasons he chose Ohio State.

"I always felt good about how he felt about Ohio State. Now I feel even better," Tressel said.

Pryor also is an excellent basketball player, but said he wouldn't play basketball for the Buckeyes.

"I just want to be a great quarterback," Pryor said.