Posted on 12/07/2009 4:09:52 PM PST by aft_lizard
National analysts have struggled all year trying to pronounce his name.
They better get it straight this week. That’s Ndamukong Suh — as in (En-dom-ah-ken) Suh, Heisman Trophy finalist.
The news arrived on Monday that “Big Suh” has bucked the odds and been invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. [+]Enlarge Story Photo Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (LJS file) Story Photo Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (LJS file) Related Link(s):
12.5.09: Suh shines brightest in Husker loss Curt McKeever: Unstoppable Suh should be considered among nation’s best Know Your Huskers video: Ndamukong Suh
Joining him on the list of finalists are Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
“It is a tremendous honor and very humbling to be a finalist for a prestigious award like the Heisman Trophy,” Suh said in a statement. “I’m excited to be included with a great group of finalists for this year’s award.”
Husker coach Bo Pelini said Suh is deserving of any honors that come his way this week.
“He is a special football player, as good as anyone in the country in my opinion,” Pelini said. “It is good to see the Heisman voters have recognized the true impact a defensive lineman like Suh can have on a football game.”
The stiff-armed bronzed statue usually goes to pretty boy quarterbacks and fleet-footed running backs. That the senior defensive tackle has crashed the party this year speaks to how absolutely amazing Suh has been this 2009 season.
Only one primarily defensive player (Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997) has ever won the award.
Suh has 82 tackles, 23 tackles for losses, 24 quarterback hurries and 12 sacks from a position that generally doesn’t generate flattering statistics.
Despite those numbers, Suh was perhaps viewed as a longshot candidate by national pundits going into this weekend. Most of the attention was going to offensive players, as is always the case for this particular award.
But the senior defensive tackle had a masterful performance
in the Big 12 Championship
, claiming 4 1/2 sacks on Texas quarterback and fellow Heisman candidate Colt McCoy.
None of those sacks was more memorable than one early in the third quarter when he tossed McCoy aside like he was his kid brother.
Those sorts of images count when it comes to gaining Heisman attention.
In many early polls trying to figure out the balloting, Suh’s name is coming up near the top in what figures to be a very close race.
Many national analysts were touting Suh on Monday, including ESPN.com’s Pat Forde, who is sending his Heisman vote Suh’s way.
“Ndamukong Suh was unbelievable in the Big 12 Championship game,” Forde said on ESPN’s “First Take” Monday morning. “I’ve said all season he reminds me of Reggie White. He may not end up being as good as Reggie White, but in terms of physically explosive player, he’s phenomenal. ... I think he is the best player in the country, which is what the award is supposed to be.”
If Suh won the award, he would become the fourth Husker Heisman winner, joining Johnny Rodgers (1972), Mike Rozier (1983) and Eric Crouch.
Suh has already begun his travels on the award circuit this week. He figures to win his share of hardware — he is a finalist for the Walter Camp Award, Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lott Trophy and Nagurski Award.
The Heisman ceremony will be held Saturday night and televised on ESPN.
That Suh gets a front-row seat? Husker defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said he’s not surprised.
“He deserves every honor he gets, and more,” he said. “In my opinion, he is without a doubt the best player in college football.”
Suh “deserves” it? Not going to happen. This always happens near the end of voting. Someone starts touting some unknown as the underdog, sexy pick and it never pans out.
As a huge Gator and Tim Tebow fan, McCoy will, and should, win the Heisman.
Which will of course ensure a Bama victory.
He wasn’t an unknown going in he had been on many Heisman lists, and going into that game he was the finalist for six major awards. If people did not know about Suh they simply have not watched CFB this year. Either way there is no way, no how does McCoy deserve the trophy this year. The award is not a life time achievement it is based on this years stats and his simply don’t hold up.
All I know is, every time I looked up, McCoy had 300+ yards passing and over 100 yards running. How does McCoy’s stats compare to the defensive guy? Did Suh have 20 sacks or something?
And another thing; doesn’t a Heisman hopeful’s team’s record matter?
You are illustrating what is wrong with Heisman voters. People tend to look at defensive stats and lump them all into one category when in reality it never works out that way on the field. The top three DT’s this year are widely considered to be Suh, McCoy and Cody. If you add up both Cody’s and McCoy’s stats together Suh beats them. Suh leads in most statistical category there is for a DT. But people tend to look for the glory stats, yards from scrimmage, interceptions, touchdowns, sacks. It is far deeper than that just like it is far deeper than one game.
I agree. I'm personally rooting for Ingram (being an Alabama fan), but Suh was absolutely awesome against Texas. If I was a quarterback playing against him I'd probably crap my pants every play.
The Heisman is now not even The Best Offensive Player. It is now The Best Offensive Player Especially if He is a Quarterback on One of the Top 5 or 10 Teams in the Country, but Especially the Top 2, or Rather, the Top 2 As Defined by the BCS System.
You’re right. Actually what they should do is just call it the offensive player of the year-Heisman.
bfl
He must have played better against other teams throughout the year. When I saw him play against Tech, he was not a factor, notwithstanding all of the hyping from the announcers.
He had great stats for a DT in the Tech game and Leach game planned around him, so not exactly certain where he was a n0n-factor. Maybe you have him mixed up with some other position, like LBR or DE.
I’d give it to him. Go, Suh.
Yea, but Suh would deserve it.
Line #1 98 Tkl, 23.5 TFL, 9.5 Sk, 20 QBH, 5 PBU, 0 Int, 1 FF, 3 Blk
Line #2 112 Tkl, 33 TFL, 14 Sk, 48 QBH, 5 PBU, 0 Int, 1 FF, 0 Blk
Line #3 116 Tkl, 25.5 TFL, 15.5 Sk, 10 QBH, 7 PBU, 0 Int, 2 FF, 0 Blk
Line #4 82 Tkl, 23 TFL, 12 Sk, 24 QBH, 10 PBU, 1 Int, 1 FF, 3 Blk
Answers:
Line #1 = Alabama.
Line #2 = Florida.
Line #3 = Texas.
Line #4 = Ndamukong Suh. By himself.
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