Report: Former Jeannette standout Terrelle Pryor suing Big Ten, Ohio State, others over NIL use

Former Jeannette standout Terrelle Pryor is suing the NCAA, Big Ten, Ohio State and Learfield Communications seeking restitution for the use of his name, image and likeness, according to multiple media reports citing a legal filing.

Pryor, who also is suing on behalf of others similarly affected, asserts that the defendants violated the Sherman Act, an antitrust law. The suit argues that the defendants have generated millions in revenue off of the likes of Pryor and other athletes who participated in college sports before 2016, when athletes were unable to capitalize on their own publicity rights.

It also claims that the defendants still use footage and highlights of Pryor’s playing days on sites where the NCAA, Big Ten and Ohio State can make profits from advertisements.

Pryor was a football and basketball standout at Jeannette. The Jayhawks’ quarterback, he led them to back-to-back WPIAL football titles and the program’s first PIAA championship in 2007.

On the basketball court, he led Jeannette to WPIAL and PIAA championships.

Considered one of the top football recruits in the country, he went on to play at Ohio State from 2008-10, then entered the NFL Supplemental Draft in 2011. Taken in the third round, he was the final player ever drafted by late Raiders owner Al Davis.

Pryor, now 35 years old, played parts of seven NFL seasons with five teams. He appeared in 51 NFL games, making 30 starts. His most memorable moment came when, against his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013, Pryor ran for a 93-yard touchdown, the longest by a quarterback in NFL history.

After two seasons at quarterback, Pryor switched to wide receiver, where he played 36 games over the next five seasons. His best season was 2016 with the Cleveland Browns, when he caught 77 passes for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns.

Pryor’s is just the latest among many similar lawsuits. The most recent came two weeks ago, when former Heisman Trophy winning running back Reggie Bush filed suit against USC, the Pac 12 and NCAA to recover NIL money he believes he is owed.