Former Ohio State and current Eastern Kentucky University DE Noah Spence has decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2016 NFL Draft. He has signed with Relativity Sports NFL agents Eugene Parker, Doug Hendrickson and CJ LaBoy for his representation according to Liz Mullen.
Spence was named to the AP first team for FCS All-Americans and invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl next month. He was Urban Meyer’s first five-star recruit to commit to Ohio State and as a sophomore in 2013 had 14.5 TFL and eight sacks, leading the Buckeyes in both categories.
There were suspicions about Spence’s off the field life after he failed a drug test for a banned substance before the 2013 Big Ten title game.He was suspended for three games, including the Orange Bowl. He failed another test in September 2014, in which he tested positive for Ecstasy. A few days before the Buckeyes faced Wisconsin for the Big Ten title, Spence found out that he was permanently banned from the Big Ten.
Luckily, Spence landed on his feet and found himself playing football again at FCS Eastern Kentucky. The 6’3″, 261-pound defensive end totaled 22.5 TFL and 11.5 sacks this past season, the fourth-most in EKU single-season history. He was able to record a sack in nine of Eastern Kentucky’s 11 games this season, which helped the Colonels boast a run defense that was 15th in the nation.
According to NFL Draft Scout, he is projected as the 35th overall prospect, 4th at his position and a likely first to second round draft pick.