Former Buckeye Terrelle Pryor, ‘Tattoo 5′ call for restoration of records, stats

The “Tat5” were Pryor, running back Dan “Boom” Herron, offensive tackle Mike Adams, receiver DeVier Posey and defensive end Solomon Thomas.

They were suspended after admitting they unknowingly violated NCAA rules against receiving extra benefits when they traded team equipment and memorabilia for cash and free or discounted services, including tattoos, in 2010.

While Pryor entered the NFL via the supplemental draft in the summer of 2011, the others remained on the team and played out the season after serving their suspensions.

Their stats were originally to remain intact, but ultimately they were removed from the record book along with 12 wins when it was later revealed coach Jim Tressel had been aware of potential NCAA violations having occurred and failed to disclose that to Ohio State or the NCAA.

Ohio State also vacated the Big Ten championship and a Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas, but all of those actions have been revisited in the court of public opinion lately after the NCAA announced it would be revising rules against players’ profiting from their name, image and likeness.

“The affirmation of the NCAA athletes’ right to make a living from their name, image, and likeness is a huge step in the right direction,” Pryor wrote. “Armed with the correct resources and support, we know they’ll show what we felt to be true all along — not letting athletes capitalize on what ultimately is their hard work was unjust and unnecessary.

“Now that the fundamental right has been granted to a new generation of athletes, now that they finally have the freedom to share in some of the millions of dollars in revenue they generate for their coaches, their institutions, their conferences, and the NCAA as a whole, we would like to see our hard-won accomplishments reinstated.”

The other players co-signed Pryor’s statement, but it was not immediately clear if anything will come of the request.

Ohio State’s newly passed rules regarding profiting off NIL still do not allow players to sell their team-issued equipment or apparel during their careers, though that might not be necessary given the numerous new sources of revenue the new rules open up.

The school officially does not recognize the 12 wins from the 2010 season, and the stats of the players involved were erased from that season but not others.

At the time he left school, Pryor ranked fifth in Ohio State history with 6,177 passing yards and third in completions with 477.

He was tied with Bobby Hoying for the most touchdown passes with 57 and third in career completion percentage (.609) and career passing yards per game (158.4).

Pryor had the top passing efficiency rating (158.4) for a career (since surpassed by Dwayne Haskins and Justin Fields) and the school record for completions in a row (16).