Ohio State star will sit over NCAA ‘issue’
Chase Young will sit “due to a possible NCAA issue from 2018 that the Department of Athletics is looking into."
Defensive end Chase Young, the best player on perhaps the best team in college football, Ohio State, will not play this weekend as possible NCAA violations are investigated.
Young will sit “due to a possible NCAA issue from 2018 that the Department of Athletics is looking into,” the school said in a statement Friday. No further details on the nature of the “NCAA issue” were immediately available. It was also not immediately clear whether Young’s suspension would continue after this weekend.
Ohio State is 8-0 and emerged as the No. 1 team in the initial college football playoff rankings this week. The Buckeyes’ perfect record includes victories over strong Michigan State and Wisconsin teams.
Ohio State meets Maryland on Saturday, a game in which the Buckeyes are favored by 43 points. After playing another weak team, Rutgers, on Nov. 16, OSU faces a real test against Penn State on Nov. 23. Penn State was ranked No. 4 by the initial rankings, ahead of Clemson, the reigning champion.
Ohio State concludes its regular season against archrival Michigan on Nov. 30.
Young has 15 1/2 tackles for a loss on the season and 13 1/2 sacks, which leads the country. A junior, he is widely expected to be a top three NFL draft choice after the season. He also has been talked up as a Heisman Trophy candidate, a rare accolade for a defensive player (the award often goes to quarterbacks).
At 6 feet 6 inches and 270 pounds, Young has become known as the Predator for his fearsome pass rushing.
The NCAA declined to comment.
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