COLUMBUS, Ohio _ Ohio State defensive end Chase Young will not play in the Buckeyes' home football game against Maryland on Saturday while the school investigates a possible NCAA violation that occurred last year.
In a brief statement released Friday morning, the university confirmed the suspension, citing a "possible NCAA issue." The school did not provide any insight regarding the length of his suspension.
Young later tweeted his own statement in which he said that he "made a mistake last year by accepting a loan from a family friend," the source of the issue. He noted that he had known the person before enrolling at Ohio State in 2017 and that the loan was repaid.
"I'm working with the University and NCAA to get back on the field as soon as possible," he wrote. "I want to thank my family, teammates, coaches and the whole Ohio State community for all the love and support."
Tim Nevius, a New York-based attorney who previously worked as an NCAA investigator, wrote in a tweet that he was working with Young to restore his eligibility.
Accepting a loan does not prohibit a player from returning to the field.
In one recent case, Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix sat out two games in 2013 for taking a loan of less than $500 from one of the Crimson Tide's assistant strength and conditioning coaches, it was reported at the time by The Tuscaloosa News. The NCAA later reinstated Clinton-Dix.
The size of the loan could influence the length of Young's suspension. Nevius only referred to the loan as a "small loan" in his tweet. Messages left with Nevius were not immediately returned.
Young, a junior from Hyattsville, Md., is considered one of the top players in college football and the possible No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft next year should he file for early entry and skip his final season of eligibility.
When the unbeaten Buckeyes (8-0) were announced as the No. 1 ranked team in the first College Football Playoff ratings this week, Rob Mullens, the chair of the selection committee, singled out Young as bolstering their case for the top spot, referring to him "as probably the best defensive player in the country."
Young's production _ he leads Football Bowl Subdivision with 13 { sacks _ has been stellar enough to fuel speculation that he could become the first true defensive player to capture the Heisman Trophy. Traditionally, college football's most prestigious award has been given to quarterbacks and running backs.
Through the first eight games, Young is on pace to break school and Big Ten single-season records for sacks. His next sack would surpass Vernon Gholston, whose 14 sacks in 2007 set the Buckeyes' single-season mark.
While the length of Young's suspension is yet to be determined, it comes amid a softer spot of Ohio State's schedule.
After facing Maryland, which has lost six of its past seven games, on Saturday, the Buckeyes visit downtrodden Rutgers on Nov. 16. The Scarlet Knights have not won a Big Ten game this season, losing six conference games by an average of more than five touchdowns per game.
But a matchup with Penn State, which debuted at No. 4 in the playoff rankings, looms large. The Nittany Lions visit Columbus in the Buckeyes' final home game on Nov. 23, a matchup that will likely determine the Big Ten East race as well as major playoff implications.
Without Young available against Maryland, either freshman Zach Harrison or Javontae Jean-Baptiste, a redshirt freshman, will start, according to the team's weekly depth chart.
The Buckeyes also will be playing without Jonathon Cooper, the starting defensive end opposite Young, who suffered a high ankle sprain in September and was sidelined in their last game, against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Either Tyreke Smith or Tyler Friday, sophomores, will start for Cooper.
The possible starting defensive ends for Saturday have a combined five sacks this season, less than half of Young's total for this season. Also, Cooper and Young are among the team's seven captains.
The presence of Young had bolstered an improved defense for the Buckeyes this season. After they allowed a program-worst 25.5 points in 2018, they have allowed just 7.9 points per game this fall, the fewest in the nation, and also 224 yards per game to rank second in total defense.
"Having a player like Chase play the way he has clearly changes the game and makes everybody on that defense better because you have to account for him on every play," OSU coach Ryan Day said last week.
Young's suspension marked the second straight season that Ohio State will be forced to play without their top pass rusher for at least some length of time.
Last season, a core muscle injury sidelined Nick Bosa after he had appeared in the first three games. Bosa later left for the NFL, and was the No. 2 overall draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers.
