2020 NFL Draft: Chase Young shows why he’s the No. 1 player

Chase Young returned from a two-game NCAA suspension against Penn State and proved why he is the best player in the prospective class for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Chase Young may not go first in the 2020 NFL Draft, but Saturday’s performance from the Ohio State pass rusher reaffirmed his status as the clear top player in the class.

Young came back from a two-game NCAA suspension to help Ohio State to a 28-17 victory over Penn State, and his return could hardly have been more spectacular.

The defensive end was in dominant form and brutally took advantage of Penn State’s inexplicable decision not to double-team him or help their tackles with chips from running backs and tight ends.

Young finished with nine tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. His battle with the Penn State tackles was an utter mismatch, as the Nittany Lions proved utterly unable to handle his frightening blend of explosiveness, bend, dip, and power.

Were the Cincinnati Bengals not in definite need of a quarterback, Young would be on course to be the first player selected in April’s draft.

As it is, with the Bengals ready to move on from Andy Dalton and Ryan Finley unlikely to be the answer, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow appears destined to receive that honor.

Should it all play out in that fashion, it will be the second straight year in which an Ohio State defensive end regarded as the best player in the draft has had to endure the short wait until pick two to hear his name called.

Young has all the tools to replicate Nick Bosa on the field as well as in the draft and enjoy a magnificent rookie campaign. Expect to see the best player in the 2020 draft living in opposing backfields for a long time to come.