COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State defensive end Chase Young returned from a two-game suspension and broke the school's single-season sacks record on Saturday, notching three for a total of 16.5.
"I was itching to get back on the field, just not being on there for two weeks," Young said. "I just tried to give it all I had today and we won the game, and that's all we care about."
Young passed Vernon Gholston, who had 14 sacks in 2007. The second-ranked Buckeyes beat No. 8 Penn State 28-17 to remain undefeated.
Young's 16.5 sacks are the fourth most in a season in Big Ten history.
The junior served a suspension and sat out against Maryland and Rutgers for taking a loan from a family friend in 2018. Young paid the loan back in full, but still had to sit out two games before returning for Ohio State's matchup against Penn State.
Coming into this game, Young had 38 quarterback pressures and 13.5 sacks. That was already three more sacks than he had in 2018 and 10 more than he had in 2017.
He finished the Penn State game with nine total tackles, three sacks and four tackles for loss. While he said his preparation for this game was the same, he did admit to having some pent-up emotions to get on the field.
"I wouldn't say [the game was] personal," Young said. "I guess it may be personal because it was my first game back, I just tried to put my best foot forward, but I wouldn't say personal for me."
His performance this season has garnered some Heisman trophy discussion, some saying he deserves to be a finalist for the award, including his head coach, Ryan Day.
"It means a lot from our leader, Coach Day, to say that," Young said. "I just thank God to put me in this position."
Young now has posted consecutive games with three or more sacks, as he had four against Wisconsin in the last game he played before being suspended.
