Suh, a 6’4”, 305-pound defensive tackle, redefined dominance during his time with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. His senior season in 2009 was a masterclass in defensive prowess, earning him the Associated Press College Player of the Year award—the first defensive player to claim the honor since its inception in 1998. Suh’s remarkable campaign included 85 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 26 quarterback hurries, 10 pass breakups, three blocked kicks, and an interception, making him the first defensive lineman in Nebraska history to lead the team in tackles for two consecutive seasons. His standout performance in the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game against Texas, where he recorded seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, remains a legendary showcase of his disruptive power.
“Suh was the best player in college football that season,” said On3’s Andy Staples, who named Suh a “no-brainer” for Hall of Fame induction. “He simply wrecked every offense he played.”
Suh’s trophy case from 2009 is equally impressive. He swept the nation’s top defensive awards, winning the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman), Rotary Lombardi Award (top lineman), Chuck Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year), and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year). He became the fourth Husker to win both the Outland and Lombardi in the same season, joining Rich Glover (1972), Dave Rimington (1982), and Dean Steinkuhler (1983), and was the first Nebraska player to claim the Bednarik and Nagurski awards. Suh also made history as the first defensive tackle since Warren Sapp in 1994 to be invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, finishing fourth with a record 161 first-place votes for an interior defensive lineman and the highest point total for a fourth-place finisher.
Over his Nebraska career, Suh amassed 215 tackles, 57 tackles for loss (second in school history), 24 sacks (fourth in school history), a position-record 15 pass breakups, and six blocked kicks—a record for Nebraska defensive linemen. His versatility and relentless disruption set a standard for defensive excellence, earning him unanimous First-Team All-American honors and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award in 2009, the first Husker to win it since Grant Wistrom in 1996 and 1997.
“Being on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot is a significant honor,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Out of the more than 5.7 million individuals who have played college football, only 1,093 players have been inducted. The Hall’s requirement of being a First-Team All-American narrows the pool to about 1,500 eligible individuals.” Suh’s inclusion among this elite group underscores his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Suh’s impact extended beyond the field. His leadership and intensity elevated Nebraska’s “Blackshirt” defense, helping the Huskers to a 10-4 record in 2009, including a Holiday Bowl victory. His legacy endures in Lincoln, where his No. 93 jersey is retired, and he was inducted into the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024. Following his collegiate career, Suh enjoyed a 13-year NFL career, earning five Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
