SUHperman that ho!

NU's Suh named Heisman Trophy finalist
By BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star

All season, national analysts have butchered his name or not even attempted to pronounce it.

They might be wise to finally learn it this week. That’s Ndamukong Suh — as in (En-dom-ah-ken) Suh, Heisman Trophy finalist.

Suh bodyslammed the odds Monday, earning an invitation to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City, a setting where we’ve so long been told 300-pound men aren’t supposed to venture.

But here comes the Husker senior with four other finalists: Stanford running back Toby Gerhart, Alabama running back Mark Ingram, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

Husker coach Bo Pelini called Suh “a special football player” who is as good as anyone in the country.

“It is good to see the Heisman voters have recognized the true impact a defensive lineman like Suh can have on a football game,” Pelini said.

The bronze statue usually goes to pretty-boy quarterbacks or touchdown-scoring running backs. That the senior defensive tackle has crashed the party this year speaks to how sublime Suh has been this season.

Suh has 82 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hurries and 12 sacks from a position that generally doesn’t generate flattering statistics.

Despite those numbers, he was viewed by most pundits as a Heisman long shot going into last weekend. Then came the Big 12 championship game, which played like a Suh highlight reel and a nightmare for fellow Heisman finalist McCoy.

Suh had 12 tackles (seven for loss), and 4 1/2 sacks of the Texas quarterback.

None stood out more than a third-quarter sack in which Suh tossed McCoy aside like he was his kid brother.

Most people thought I was crazy when I started predicting that Suh would reach New York a couple of months ago. Yeah, crazy like a fox. There's only so long you can go ignoring a defensive tackle that leads him team in tackles for back-to-back seasons. No to mention one who sheds double teams like Suh. And when Colt McCoy got put on his ass play after play I started thinking Mr. Suh had punched his ticket to New York.

How will he finish? I'm still not sure. As of 1:15 a.m. he was still in the lead in first place votes and total votes so anything can happen. I'll keep yall posted.