CHARLOTTE, N.C.—An evening that ended with Ndamukong Suh dressed in a tuxedo and clutching the Bronko Nagurski Trophy started on a much different note for Nebraska's star defensive tackle.
"We spoke with some kids early today, some high school kids, boys and girls," Suh said before the ceremony. "Then we had a great encounter at the hospital visit and met some great kids. Even though they're in pain, they put a smile on my face, definitely."
The smile stayed put pretty much all day for the man who was recognized as the nation's top defensive player at the banquet, beating out the four other finalists who were on hand: TCU end Jerry Hughes, Alabama tackle Terrence Cody, Tennessee safety Eric Berry and Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer.
It's a busy week for Suh, who, barring unforeseen circumstances, will be drafted with one of the first few picks in the 2010 NFL draft. He will be in Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday for the Lombardi Trophy (outstanding lineman) presentation, but the one award every Cornhusker worth their stalk has their eyes on is the Heisman Trophy.
Suh learned Monday afternoon that he'll be one of five players heading to New York for Saturday's presentation ceremony. "I would love it (if Suh won the Heisman)," Berry said. "I have the defensive mindset. We make plays on the defensive side, too, but we don't really get the recognition. But for him to get it from a defensive line position would say a lot. That's a big, big deal."
Suh was a dominating force for the Nebraska defense all season, and was at his absolute best when the Cornhuskers needed him most. In the torrential downpour during the Big 12 opener against Missouri, a game between two of the Big 12 North preseason favorites, Suh had six tackles, forced a fumble, recorded a sack, intercepted one pass and broke up another.
But it was on the biggest stage, against Texas in the Big 12 championship game, where he really opened the eyes of a nation. He finished with 12 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, another Heisman finalist.
"If I could vote, I'd vote for him," Angerer said. "He's unbelievable. Watching him play gets you fired up. And to think he does all that while getting double-teamed and while getting held, that's even more impressive."
Like Berry, Cody would love to see a defensive star capture the award usually reserved for offensive stalwarts.
"It would be real good, representing the defensive linemen because you don't hear a lot about us," Cody said. "All year you hear more about the linebackers and DBs and stuff, but you don't hear a lot about the defensive line. To win that, that would be real special not just for him, but for other D-linemen as well."
But the Heisman is on Saturday. Suh will worry about that later. On Monday, his focus was on the Nagurski, an opportunity he referred to as once-in-a-lifetime. "It really is the Heisman for the defensive players," Suh said. "That's the way I look at it."
Or maybe the Heisman is the Nagurski for everyone. That's another way to look at it.
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