LINCOLN — The awards circuit began with a bang Monday night for Ndamukong Suh as the Nebraska defensive tackle won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented to the nation's top defender by the Football Writers Association of America.
Suh, also selected Monday as a Heisman Trophy finalist, earned the award over linebacker Pat Angerer of Iowa, cornerback Eric Berry of Tennessee, tackle Terrence Cody of Alabama and end Jerry Hughes of TCU.
He becomes the first Husker to win the Nagurski Trophy and the first major-award winner from NU since Eric Crouch won the Heisman in 2001.
Suh, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior, leads Nebraska statistically with 82 tackles, including 23 for losses, and 12 sacks.
“That he was able to play within our team concept and still put up those numbers, it's just remarkable,” defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “No. 1 charge is to use up blockers as best he can. He does that very well. Everything else that he does, really, it's mind-boggling.”
Coach Bo Pelini attended the Nagurski banquet with Suh in Charlotte, N.C.
Carl Pelini will accompany Suh to the Lombardi Award banquet Wednesday in Houston. In addition to the Heisman, he is also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, the Walter Camp Award and the Bednarik Award — all three of which will be presented Thursday at the college football awards show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
The Heisman ceremony is Saturday in New York.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1031, mitch.sherman@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
RSS Feeds