/*Vick*/ served 18 months in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring before signing with the /*Philadelphia Eagles*/ last month.
"I always looked up to Mike Vick and I always will, because I still think he is one of the best quarterbacks," Pryor said. "I love Mike Vick."
Vick admitted bankrolling a dogfighting operation on his property in Virginia. He was suspended indefinitely by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in August 2007.
"I know what happened with him and, I mean, I don't want to talk much," Pryor said. "I'm just going to be very short and sweet with it but I just feel he made his mistake and I think he just needs more support."
Vick has always been known as a great open-field runner who has yet to establish himself as an accurate passer. Pryor, a sophomore who was the top quarterback recruit in the nation two years ago, is also praised as a runner but has faced similar questions about his passing ability.
Pryor threw a late interception that resulted in a Navy touchdown with 2:23 remaining that pulled the Midshipmen to 29-27. Navy went for the tying two-point conversion, but Ohio State linebacker Brian Rolle intercepted and returned the pass 99 yards for two points. The Buckeyes then recovered an onside kick.
A noted scrambler on the field, Vick was a three-time Pro Bowl pick during six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
Pryor, who completed 14 of 21 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown against Navy, didn't think Vick was getting a fair shot. "Not everybody is the perfect person in the world," Pryor said of Vick. "Everyone does - kills people, murders people, steals from you, steals from me. I just feel that people need to give him a chance."
Asked if he had seen the tribute to Vick on the 6-foot-6 Pryor's face, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said he hadn't noticed it.
"I'm not tall enough to see his eyebrows," Tressel said. "I don't know what he had."
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