Alaeze to play
Melvin Alaeze, who originally signed with Maryland, is expected to get playing time tomorrow for Illinois in the team's game at Rutgers.
The former Randallstown defensive end wound up in Champaign in early August, barely six months since he had signed with the Terps and roughly six weeks after drug charges and SAT struggles derailed any hopes of playing in College Park.
After Maryland rescinded its scholarship offer to Alaeze on June 21, the 6-foot-3, 280-pound All-Metro player enrolled at Illinois, where former Maryland assistant coach Mike Locksley is offensive coordinator on Ron Zook's staff.
Alaeze was cleared Aug. 31 by the NCAA Clearinghouse to participate in the Illini's opener against Eastern Illinois, but he did not play.
"I know this is a second chance," Alaeze told the State Journal-Register of Springfield. "Illinois gave me an opportunity to show that I'm a better person. I won't let anyone down."
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