Two days before Friday’s Class 8A state-title game rematch against defending champion Stevenson, Homewood-Flossmoor senior wide receiver Kendric Pryor eliminated one big point of stress in his life.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Pryor, a consensus three-star recruit, committed to Wisconsin late Wednesday via Twitter. Pryor is the 29th-ranked recruit in Illinois’ Class of 2016, according to 247Sports.com.
“This takes a lot of pressure off me,” Pryor said. “Now I just can focus on my team and the season and trying to win state. I think I have a chance to play right away at defensive back, and they also want me to play offense. This gives me an opportunity to get on the field quicker.”
Pryor also had offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Connecticut, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Ball State and Wyoming. Capable of playing receiver, defensive back and returning kicks in college, Pryor had 32 receptions for 704 yards and six touchdowns last season. He hauled in three passes for 40 yards, tallied six tackles, including a pass breakup, and returned three kickoffs for 61 yards in the 31-25 loss to Stevenson on Nov. 29 in the 8A final.
In a Week 1 blowout win over Downers Grove South, Pryor caught four passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
Homewood-Flossmoor coach Craig Buzea said Pryor expressed more interest in Wisconsin after the staff became interested in playing him at wide receiver.
“We talked about it at the start of the week, and he wanted to get it done and I told him to talk to his parents,” Buzea said. “They talked to him about playing either side of the ball. Initially, Wisconsin talked to him about playing defensive back, but now the option of maybe playing wide receiver opened up.
“Kendric feels Wisconsin is one of the top 20 teams in the country. He liked the coaches and facilities and thought he had a chance to play early in his career. Wisconsin is getting one heck of player. He’s a versatile player who can do a lot of things with the ball in his hands.”
Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
