Noah Spence fails another drug test for Ecstasy, out indefinitely

Just days after being reinstated following a suspension for failing a drug test at last year's Big Ten championship game, Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence finds himself facing discipline once again.

Spence is out indefinitely for what Eleven Warriors first reported was the result of another failed drug test. The Columbus Dispatch's Tim May later followed up by stating that Spence is out indefinitely after a second violation of Ohio State and Big Ten rules. The university indirectly confirmed the reports in a statement, saying that Spence would not play against Kent State, but that final resolution remained forthcoming. Spence had been listed on this past week's depth chart as the backup to interim starter Steve Miller.

Spence missed last year's Orange Bowl and the first two games of the 2014 season after a positive test for the street drug Ecstasy. Spence's father, Greg, was adamant at the time that his son was slipped the drug unknowingly at a party, and even discussed potentially suing the Big Ten.

On Friday, however, May expanded upon his previous report with a bombshell that Spence admitted to his parents after a meeting with Urban Meyer and Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr. that he had a "medical illness" involving the drug:

They were summoned from their Harrisburg, Pa., home to a meeting with coach Urban Meyer, defensive line coach Larry Johnson and their son late Thursday. Noah Spence, who had been suspended from the Orange Bowl the end of last season and the first two games of this year after his father said a Big Ten drug test at the league title game found traces of ecstasy in his system, apparently tested positive for it again. The results weren't known until late this week, which explains why he was listed on the depth chart Tuesday for the first time this season.

At that meeting Noah Spence revealed his problem to his parents, they said.

The on the field ramifications for the Buckeyes are similar to those faced in each of the last two weeks. Miller, along with former Purdue transfer, Rashad Frazier, will do their best to fill the void left by Spence. The Buckeyes still field one of the deepest and most talented defensive lines in the country with Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington, and Joey Bosa making up the other three fourths of the starting unit.