Ahead of Saturday’s contest against No. 3 Ohio State, Maryland football may still have 99 problems. But defensive lineman Chase Young, who has garnered Heisman Trophy attention for his game-changing ability to get in the backfield, is no longer one.
Young has been suspended for the matchup with the Terps at Ohio Stadium, scheduled to be aired on FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff,” for a potential undisclosed NCAA violation stemming from 2018, according to a release.
Young, who went to DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, tweeted that he “made a mistake” in accepting a loan from a “family friend” he’s known since the summer before his freshman year. Young wrote that he’s since repaid it in full. It’s unclear if Young’s suspension will extend beyond the Maryland game.
— Chase Young (@youngchase907) November 8, 2019
The Terps have plenty of knowledge of just how disruptive Young can be. The 6-foot-5 defensive end leads the FBS with 13.5 sacks, an he’s second with 15.5 tackles for loss. Against Wisconsin on Oct. 26, Young tied the Buckeyes’ single-game record with four sacks.
“His size, his speed, his athleticism and his power are all the things that make him a great player,” coach Mike Locksley said Tuesday. “You can bet that he’ll have our full attention in how we protect and turn the protection and help make sure that we don’t allow him to disrupt what we want to do to try to move the football.”
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Maryland’s slim along the offensive line once more, with right guard Terrance Davis tweaking his MCL sprain after returning against Minnesota and center Johnny Jordan not expected to return this weekend as he deals with a personal matter. That leaves the Terps “seven deep in terms of how we practice,” Locksley said.
Ohio State has racked up a Big Ten-best 4.3 sacks per game, while Maryland has allowed its quarterbacks to be dragged down 2.3 times per game. In the buildup to Saturday’s contest, quarterback Josh Jackson was asked if his teammates’ experience with Young in high school might help slow the pass rusher down.
“I know they know him,” Jackson said. “I don’t know if they know how to stop him.”
Now, they won’t have to. But Ohio State is still rife with talent, posing a difficult challenge for Maryland.