Freshman defender Alaeze leaves team, school

Freshman Melvin Alaeze, the nation’s top-ranked defensive end when he was a high school senior, has left Illinois “for personal reasons,” coach Ron Zook said. Alaeze played in two of the first five games. After signing with Maryland, he wasn’t allowed to enroll because of low test scores. Alaeze went to Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy and played last fall before dropping out. In February, he was arrested in Towson, Md., and charged with five marijuana offenses, prompting Maryland to rescind its scholarship offer. Three of the offenses were dismissed; two reportedly were placed in inactive status.

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