Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence has been suspended for the Orange Bowl as well as the first two games of the Buckeyes 2014 season.
The all-Big Ten performer violated a conference rule, according to a statement released Wednesday by Ohio State.
Spence did not travel with the Buckeyes to Florida due to what was deemed a “personal issue.” He led the Buckeyes in sack with eight and recorded 13 1/2 tackles for a loss.
There were no details on the infraction, but the statement did say that Spence’s family did not agree with the decision: “Spence’s parents, who did not agree with the rule violation nor the penalty imposed, were assisted by the Ohio State Department of Athletics in exhausting the appeals process that was available to them with the Big Ten.”
Spence also is an academic all-Big Ten honoree and an OSU Scholar-Athlete. He will continue course work toward his sociology degree next semester, according to the school. While Spence will be allowed to practice with Ohio State this spring he will not be able to play until Sept. 13, 2014 against Kent State.
