Ohio State Safety Transfer Isaiah Pryor Picks Notre Dame
Notre Dame will get immediate help to its secondary for the 2020 season.
The Fighting Irish hosted former Ohio State Buckeyes safety Isaiah Pryor for an official visit Oct. 11-13, and then he returned for an unofficial visit Nov. 2 and made a commitment to Notre Dame.
“I like the coaches and players, who are cool and easy to talk to,” Pryor told BlueandGold.com. “I really like the academics and the plan laid out for me to get my masters degree.”
Pryor played in 31 games for the Buckeyes over three seasons (2017-19), and recorded 47 tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception. He only played in four games this season for Ohio State, which allows him to redshirt this season.
Also, Pryor will graduate from OSU this December with a bachelor’s degree and will not have to sit out the 2020 season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“There’s a need to help the defense — immediate competition for playing time,” said Pryor’s father, Richard Pryor. “They play five or six defensive backs so there's an opportunity there.”
Pryor played his high school ball at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., but is from Lawrenceville, Ga.
Rivals ranked him as the No. 12 safety and No. 106 overall prospect nationally as a recruit in the 2017 class.
“They want [Isaiah] everywhere [on defense],” Richard Pryor said. “He can play multiple spots. At Archer High School, before he went to IMG Academy, he played that hybrid star position — in the box and at nickel. His first time playing safety was at IMG.”
Isaiah Pryor was one of six finalists for the 26th annual Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award, a prestigious honor the African American high school athletes. Finalists for the award were selected based on their unweighted grade-point average, personal statement, extracurricular activities, community service and letters of recommendation.
“When he was younger, he was always the last player picked playing sports,” Richard Pryor said. “His work ethic is bar none. He’ll be up there with anybody as far as competing and training. He’s a work horse. He is a grinder.”
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