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Michigan’s passing game against Rutgers this Saturday perhaps got a little easier.
The Scarlet Knight defense has been stellar through three games, in large part due to the secondary. It had been opportunistic, with no one showing out more than freshman cornerback Max Melton, who has two interceptions in three games, with one being a pick six. Melton is rated as the third-best defensive player through Week 3 for the Rutgers team.
But Melton, along with fellow corner Chris Long, were suspended immediately and indefinitely due to an arrest involving a paintball gun. It’s a big loss for a team that needs to be full strength if it intends on beating Michigan for the first time since 2014.
Rutgers' Chris Long, Max Melton have been suspended.
Greg Schiano statement: "I was informed that Chris Long and Malachi Melton were taken into police custody early this morning as a result of an incident involving a paint ball gun. Both players have been suspended immediately."— Chris Iseman (@ChrisIseman) September 21, 2021
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Melton was a starter at cornerback and has a PFF grade of 76.0 defensively. Long wasn’t nearly as big of a contributor, having only seen 13 snaps over the course of the three games, with half coming on special teams. Kessawn Abraham is thought to be the backup cornerback behind Melton.
Michigan and Rutgers kick off on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT at The Big House and will be nationally broadcast on ABC.
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