Terrelle Pryor, the nation's top-rated football recruit, delayed his college decision yesterday because the Jeannette (Pa.) High quarterback said he wanted to give the Nittany Lions "a fair chance," among other reasons.

A late push by coach Joe Paterno and his staff, and the pro-Penn State views of Pryor's father, Craig, were significant factors in the postponement, the 6-foot-6, 235-pound senior said at a nationally televised news conference.

It was expected that Pryor was going to announce he was signing with Ohio State over Michigan and Penn State.

"I had my mind set last night on where I was going to go, then I was thinking twice because Penn State - they've been hitting hard," said Pryor, who also brought Oregon back into the picture. "I'm really looking at the [the Lions] real hard. I'm looking forward to taking a visit there."

If Pryor's change of mind was like a Christmas present for Lions fans, one de-commit and two wavering recruits who stuck with their original choices were like coals in the stocking.

Michael Shaw, a 6-foot, 185-pound running back from Torchwood, Ohio, who was considered a solid oral commitment, ended up signing with Big Ten-rival Michigan. Penn State looked as if it had a shot to sway Christchurch, Va., wide receiver Deion Walker and Cresco, Pa., tackle Corey Lewis from their original choices of Notre Dame and Illinois, respectively. But both players stuck with their initial choices.

"Losing Shaw hurts. They needed running backs," said Bob Lichtenfels of the recruiting Web site scout.com. "Corey is a decent player and the same goes for Walker. But they weren't going to make or break the class."

Penn State's relatively small class of 14 recruits, as it stands, ranks 40th in the nation and sixth in the Big Ten, according to scout.com.

If Pryor were to select the Lions - and that's still a big if - their ranking would improve significantly. If they were to land the 18-year-old, it would be an upset every bit as big as the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots.

Pryor doesn't know when he will make an official visit to State College, but it won't be this weekend because he has an awards banquet to attend in Atlanta. He has until April 1 to sign a binding letter of intent.

The longer he waits, the better it presumably is for Paterno. The 81-year-old coach, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, and quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno appear to have made inroads with the elder Pryor. Rather than chase Terrelle, the coaches have established a rapport with Craig.

"My dad is like in love with them," Terrelle said.

A similar scenario played out two years ago when Vidal Hazelton, a top wide receiver, extended his signing day because his father wouldn't co-sign a letter to Southern Cal. Dexter Hazelton favored the Lions, but his son eventually won out. Vidal now stars for the Trojans.