Prospect Noah Spence knows he has to outplay his past in the NFL

Noah Spence knows what got him here.

He could have stayed at Ohio State, won a national title and become a star. Spence might even have become a top-five NFL Draft choice.

Instead, he ended up at Eastern Kentucky and entered the draft process needing to explain himself while hoping one team believes him.

“I’m just telling the truth,” Spence said. “My whole story, it’s all out there. I’m just not holding anything back.”

Spence insists he has “grown” and became a better person after the Big Ten banned him for two failed drug tests.

“I knew what I did,” Spence said. “I knew why I was there, and I knew it was a business trip for me. It’s a great school, and I wanted to win, and I knew going in what I wanted to do and what I wanted to get out of the situation.”

Spence tested positive for Ecstasy at the 2013 Big Ten title game. The league suspended him for three games, a reduction of the initial penalty, after he lied to his family and coaches about how the drug got into his system.

He failed another test for Ecstasy in 2014, earning a permanent ban from the conference.

“There’s a group of people I can’t hang with,” Spence said. “I have to be more myself and stay away from that party scene. It was more like partying and going out. Every time I did it, it was me going out and partying.

“It was never really an addiction.”

Spence said weekly drug tests prove he has changed his ways. He no longer goes out, keeping a low profile by hanging out with his girlfriend.

He hasn’t changed on the field. Spence made 63 tackles, 22.5 for loss, and 11.5 sacks last season in the FCS.

But Spence is one of a handful of prospects, along with Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, whose off-the-field issues might give teams pause.

“He’s a great kid,” Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa said. “Everybody makes mistakes. I made mistakes. It’s what you do with the second chance. He’s being looked at as a first-round pick, so I think he did a great job with a second chance.”

Spence doesn’t care where he goes or when he goes. He just wants a fresh start in the NFL.

“I don’t have any expectations,” he said. “I’m blessed to be in this situation. I didn’t think I’d be back here. Wherever I go is fine with me.”

Overview

The strongest group in this class, especially at defensive tackle. While a defensive tackle might not go in the top 10, there could be a run on them from picks 11-50. It ranks as a talented group, one of the better defensive-tackle classes in years. Defensive end isn’t as strong, but better than average with Ohio State’s Joey Bosa and Oregon’s DeForest Buckner expected to be drafted in the top 10.

Cowboys’ needs

They had only 31 sacks last season, three more than the previous season. That was after they signed free agent Greg Hardy, but he proved not to be worth the risk. DeMarcus Lawrence, a second-round pick in 2014, is facing a four-game drug suspension. The rest of the defensive line contributed only 10 sacks. Randy Gregory was suspended for the first four games for violating its substance-abuse policy. The Cowboys showed interest in Adrian Clayborn, Chris Long and Andre Branch in free agency, but the only end they signed was Benson Mayowa. Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford played last season with a shoulder injury and still had five sacks. The Cowboys signed Cedric Thornton to play the nose, but he has only four sacks in 61 career games.

Top three DEs

Joey Bosa, Ohio State, 6-5, 269, 4.77: He made 150 career tackles, 50.5 tackles for loss and 26 sacks with five forced fumbles.

DeForest Buckner, Oregon, 6-7, 291, 5.05: In 54 career games, he made 232 tackles, 36 tackles for loss and 17 sacks with two forced fumbles.

Shaq Lawson, Clemson, 6-3, 269, 4.70: In 41 career games, he made 139 tackles, 46.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks with two forced fumbles.

Top three DTs

Sheldon Rankins, Louisville, 6-1, 299, 5.03: He made 29 career starts, making 133 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss and 18 sacks.

Jarran Reed, Alabama, 6-3, 307, 5.21: He made 28 career starts, with 112 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and two sacks.

A’Shawn Robinson, Alabama, 6-3, 294, 4.87: The Fort Worth Arlington Heights grad made 30 starts with 133 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

Sleeper

Victor Ochi, DE, Stony Brook, 6-1, 246, 4.86: He had back-to-back double-digit sack seasons and could become his school’s first draft pick.

Top Texas ties

Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State, 6-4, 273, 4.63: The Houston George Bush product, who projects as a second-round pick, made 133 tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 28 sacks in his career.

Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor, 6-1, 311, 5.05: The Waco native, who projects as a second-rounder, made 107 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 27 starts.

Hassan Ridgeway, DT, Texas, 6-3, 303, 5.02: The Mansfield product, who projects as a second-rounder, could be the lone Longhorn drafted.

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Prospect Noah Spence knows he has to outplay his past in the NFL."