INDIANAPOLIS — He played hard and partied harder, his life in the fast lane fueled by alcohol and ecstasy at parties. Related News/Archive That was the pattern at Ohio State for Noah Spence, who went from an All-Big Ten defensive end with eight sacks and 141/2 tackles for losses in 2013 to being banned from the school he loved for twice failing drug tests issued by the conference. “It was a group of people I can’t hang with,” Spence said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. “I mean, I had to be more to myself and stay away from the party scene. … It was never really an addiction.” For more than eight minutes Friday, Spence answered the same questions in a media session being asked by NFL teams this week in Indianapolis. Why did arguably the most-gifted pass rusher in the draft nearly throw it away all away for pills and thrills? Even after having to transfer to Division I-AA Eastern Kentucky, why did the restart to his career began with an alcohol-related arrest? “He’s a great kid. Everyone makes mistakes,” said Joey Bosa, Spence’s former Buckeyes teammate who is likely to be the first defensive end taken with a top-five pick in the draft. “I made mistakes. It’s what you do with the second chance. As you see, he’s here, he’s being looked at as a first-round pick…
Continue Reading: Noah Spence regains status as draft prospect after drug issues
