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Home , Bo Pelini, Brandon Graham, Brandon Spikes, Defensive tackle, Dez Bryant, Gerald McCoy

OADTOTHE NI'L DRAFT

he legend of

The story of Nebraska's do-it-all has all the elements of great literature—a foreign land, rto by Bob leverone/ SN obstacles to overcome, remarkable feats of strength- The next chapter in his tale will begin when he ^' becomes the No. 1 overall pick in -^^ April's NFL draft. But how will it ^ m i hy Matt Crossman

\ nee upon a time, in a far away land across the sea in America. He settled in called Camerooa on the continent Portland and met a beautiful woman of Africa, there lived a young boy named Bernadette. Bernadette, too, had named Ndamukong, He grew and traveled a circuitous route to Portland, he grew and he grew, He grew Hers began on the island of Jamaica, where until he was 7 feet, 3 inches tall she lived until she was 15. She moved first Then he went off to fight in to Boston and finally to Portland, where World War II. she planned to become a nurse but instead He came home to Cameroon fell in love with teaching, a profession she and raised a son, and that son remains in to this day raised a son named Michael. As a Michael from Cameroon and Bernadette young man, Michael Suh decided from Jamaica fell in love and married and to leave Cameroon and its Third had a daughter, whom they named Ngum, World struggles. He moved to West after Michael's mother. Four years later, Germany, where he played soccer Bernadette Suh and Michael had a son. and learned a trade. He liked it there They named him Ndamukong, and he is OK, but he heard things would be better the subject of our legend.

ike his gjeat-grandfather, grew to be a large and aggressive man, with the notable exception beinLg that the young Suh beats the holy hel! out of , not Nazis. He was nearly 11 pounds at birth, and at age 8, he was taller than his father, Michael. Now, to lie sure, Michael's size, 5-8, is not remarkable. But a S-foot-8- inch-tall 8-year-old is an enormous 8 year old. The pediatrician told Bernadette Suh that young Ndamukong would grow and grow and grow until he, like his great-grandfather, would stand 7 feet tall. That he stands "only" 6-4 makes this perhaps the only bold and outrageous prediction about him that he has not fulfilled. As a boy, Ndamukong Suh wanted to do two things: play games and take things apart. His college education—he graduated with a degree in construction management—has taught him how- to build things, which he loves. He also loves to destroy things. Namely quarterbacks, by picking them up and throwing them. But that part of his legend comes later. First, he endured an unrequited love with soccer. From a young age, his skill was evident. He had strength in bis legs, deftness in bis feet and bulk kids from the other team came to him. 'How can one kid foul four kids?' " Suh's mother, Bemadette, on his bones. Today, NFL experts He had the ball. They all bounced off But that ref was rare. Most of them and sister, Ngum, are used to marvel at his agility. Then, as now, he of him and fell back. He took the bail could not look past Sub's size. He was seeing him overpower the frequently penalized when he did competition. He has been doing it had the feet of a dancer and the size and struck it, and it went right into the since he was a not-so-little boy. and strength o{ an upright rhinoceros. goal. The coach from the other team nothing wrong, simply because be was "Once, when he was about 7 or 8, got so mad. He took his team and left big... at least that's how he, his mom, he was playing a soccer match with the field. He thought maybe he fouled his dad and his sister saw it. It got so another team," his father says. "Four these kids. The referee asked him. bad that he stopped playing.

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The dream of growing up to be a soccer hero dead, the man-boy Who's No. 2? Ndamukong Suh turned to We're pretty sure Ndamukong Suh will football. It was a sport strange be the first player off the board. But to his father of Cameroon and who will go next? draft his mother ofjamaica.lt looked expert Russ Lande projects the picks violent, mean, dangerous. It looked in a pre-Combine first-round mock: that way because it is that way. Football lacks soccer's subtlet>'. But X. Rams Ndamukong Suh. DT. Nebraska it rewards size and ^igressiveness, The Ram5 would like to trade down to get a franchise both of which Suh had, and , but if they can't, they will go with the has, in abundance. He asked his best prospect in the draft. parents—who by this time were 2. Uons DerTickMorgan.DE,(3eorgiaTech divorced—for permission to play. The front office will consider offensive tackles, but They said no. -minded coach likely won't let He asked and he asked and he an elite pass rusher slip by. asked. Bucs Gerald McCoy, DT. Oklahoma They said no and no and no. McCoy is a great athlete who can be a dominant interior He begged and he begged and force when he plays with good technique and passion. he begged. 4, Redskins , 08, Oklahoma They finally said yes. As a 10th grader, he joined the New coach would prefer a stronger arm. but Bradford is athletic and accurate and has football team al his high school good intangibles. i n Portland. He was bigger and stronger and faster than everybody S. Chiefs , DB, Tennessee he played with and against. He Berry could be a great or safety, and beat out a senior for a starting G.M. Scott Pioli is from the Bill Beiichick school of job in his first year and played thought, which values versatility. on both sides of the ball. But it's 6. Seahawks ,0T, Oklahoma State a moment from those 7. Browns , CB, Florida days that stands out to his sister, Ngum "Gum" Suh. Teenagers 8. Raiders Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Rorida his size—he was 6-4,2Ô0 at the 9. Bills . OT, Oklahoma time—are not supposed to excel *10. Jaguars . OE. at basketball. But he did. At one *10. Broncos . WR, Oklahoma game. Gum Suh says, the opposing Gum Suh is an elite athlete, too. in shock: Oh my goodness, he's sueh crowd chanted, without a hint of She played soccer at Mississippi a beast," Gum Suh says. 12. Dolphins Demaryius'nK)mas,WR.Geor^aTech politeness, that Suh was too big State and is a member of Major colleges from all over 13. 49ers Anthony Davis, OT. Rutgers to play basketball. He backed his Cameroon's national team. After the country wanted him to play 14. Seahavt^s C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson defender down, knocked him over that dunk, no longer could she football. He decided to attend one and dunked. "The guy was the bad look at Ndamukong and see the halfway across it. 15. Giants , ILB. Florida end of a poster," Gum Suh says. little brother she had pestered, And now his legend really •16. Titans Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas That shut the crowd up. picked on and pummeled. "I was begins. •16. 49ers Thaddeus Gibson, OLB, Ohio State IB. Steelers Rolando McClain. ILB. Alabama •19. Falcons Patrick Robinson.CB. Florida State •19. Texans Brian Price, DT. UCLA Oklahoma's McCoy isn't far behind Suh Zl. Bengals Golden Täte, WR,NotreDame SN draft expert Russ Lande ranks the He's explosive off the snap and is an ZZ. Patriots . OLB. Clemson best available defensive tackles; elite interior pass rusher. He has room to 23. Packers . OT, Iowa improve against the run and is a little raw 1. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska but has a major upside. 24. Eagles Nate Alten. S. South Florida Projected: No. 1 overall 4. D'Anthony Smith, Louisiana Tech 25. Ravens RobGronkow5ki,TE,Arizoiu A step above defensive tackles taken in Projected: Second round 26. Cardinals Jimmy Clausen. QB. Notre Dame the first round of recent drafts, he's best Listed at 6-2.300, Smith moves more suited for a 4-3 scheme but could play like he's 250 and can be a disruptive pass 27. Cowboys Bruce Campbell OT, Maryland in a 3-4. rusher. He plays hard and is the ideal size 28. Chargers ionathanDwyer,RB,Geoi^iaTech 2. Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma to play defensive tackte in a 4-3 scheme. 29. Jets Corey Wootton. DE, Northwestern Projected: Top five 5. , Georgia The junior has rare physical talents and Projected: Second round 30. Vikings . S, use can rival Suh as the top defensive tackle if He would have been a first-rounder 31. Colts Mike iupatl.G, Idaho he is consistently aggressive and uses his last year but hurt his knee in the Bulldogs' hands better on every snap. 2008 opener and missed the rest of the 32. Saints . ILB, Missouri 3. Brtan Price, UCLA season. In '09, he showed flashes of his Projected: Middle first round pre-injury form. *Order win tie determined with a coin flip at the Scouting Combine.

SPORTINGNEWS.COM 03/01/2010 31 nce upon a time, in the knee surgery kept him ofï'the field great state of Nebraska, in the spring, but he stood shoulder there lived a mighty to shoulder with during football team, the Nebraska practice, picking up intricacies of the OCiiriihuskers. Historicaliy, Nebraska's defense. Once he returned, he thrived defense was so fiercetha t it had under the Pelinis' one-on-one coaching become known throughout the land as style. the Blackshirts. "We have an old saying in education: Tbough the Blackshirts had been 'If a cbild doesn't learn the way you struggling of late, there was hope that teach, teach the way the child learns.' " the great young man Ndamukong Suh, Bernadette Suh says. "They have really part of a stellar recruiting class, would taught the way he learns. His learning help revive them. rate has gone offthe charts. He's just No legend is complete witiiout an blossomed tremendously." obstacle to overcome. And here we Today, Suh is hailed as a thinking come to that part of Suh's legend. man's player. He wants to know X's After Suh's sophomore season, the and O's and the wbys tbat go with Nebraska football team was a mess. them. Suh was such an impressive The team lost far too frequently for student that Carl Pelini changed the its passionate fans' tastes. The coach. way he coaches in several ways. One Bill Callahan, was unpopular. Suh's example: He now spends more time play was questioned. His desire was teaching each defensive unit how the questioned. He wanted to run, to other units work. flee, to transfer. But legends do not Suh's first game with bis newfound run, except when they are chasing intensity and knowledge was good quarterbacks with the intention of but unremarkable. But in tbe second picking them up and throwing them. game of the 2008 season—the second Patience, which Suh learned from his gameof the new Suh—Carl Pelini saw motlîer and father, won out. Instead something he could scantly believe. of running away from his problems, He replayed the video four or five Suh's problems ran away from him. times. He had to make sure he was Callahan was fired, and in his place, seeing what he thought he was seeing. Nebraska hired . Bo hired his He was. There was Sub, tackling a brother Carl to run the defense. Two ballcarrier with his right arm and changes washed over Suh; He became hand while simultaneously throwing more ferocious on the field and more of an offensive lineman with his left. This a student of the game off it. Offseason he did several times. "And when I say

At defensive tackle, it's a short list of No. Is When NFL commissioner Roger Goodeil announces his name on April 22, Ndannukong Suh is all but certain to become just the sixth defensive tackle drafted first overall. The careers of the first five? A mixed bag, but only one, , found stardom as a pro.

DAN WILKINSON, 1994 , 1992 , 1991 , 1982 BUCK BUCHANAN, 1963 School: Ohio State ^ School: I- School: Miami School: Texas 4- School: Grambling State_ -^ Selected by: Bengals •> Selected by: Colts •Î Selected by: Cowboys •^ Selected by: Patriots : Selected by: Chiefs

Big Daddy played 13 seasons for injuries derailed his career before it Maryland won three Super Bowls Like Emtman. Sims struggled with After being selected first overall in the AFL draft, he played 13 seasons in four teams—a long career for any ever got started. He started 19 games in the 1990s with the Cowboys. His injuries. He played in just 74 games the AFL and NFL. all for Kansas City. position but especially for an interior over six seasons with three teams. career spanned 10 seasons, but he over eight seasons, all with New Buchanan was inducted into the Halt defensive lineman. He was never a made only one . He also England. of Fame in 1990. star. played for Oakland and Green Bay. -MattCrossman

32 SEE A DIFFERENT GAME 03/01/2010 y/ffff// ROAD TO THE

throwing him," Carl PeÜni says, "I mayhe double-team or triple-team him. mean throwing him." You finally realize, they're trying The Pelini brothers weren't the only to—they just can't." people Suh learned from. One of his The more guys who trj' to block mentors was and is a former Blackshirt Sub, the happier he is. That means be named . Peter, who spent has gotten into the opposing team's four years in the NFL, wanted Suh to head, which he enjoys only slightly play meaner. "We're talking about the less than picking up a quarterback and Blackshirts. There's a swagger, and throwing bim. "The motivationi bave there's an attitude," Peter says. "After the quarterback fear me," Suh says. you get hold ofthe quarterback, you're "Make him feel my presence. Have him whispering in his ear, 'The next time, always second guessing—W/jfrf'sSu/j you're not going to get up.' It s that at, mhere the hell's he at?" change of mentality. That's what we saw Suh says such things with a twinkle him play like last year and this year." in bis eye. Picking up and throwing Peter recounts a game from 2009 a quarterback is fun. Unless you're in which Suh sunk his meat hooks the quarterback, but who cares about into Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod bim? When the game ends, and all of Taylor. "The old Suh would have the quarterbacks have been picked up just made sure he was taken down. and thrown, a cbange comes over Suh. The new Suh took him and slammed He becomes calm. "He's a very gentle him—I mean like on his head. Not tbat guy," his mom says. "Kindhearted. he was trying to hurt bim, but he was Soft." making a point: Every time Iget ahold Mike Dyer and Suh were high In one single game the 2009 Big 12 of you, this is what you 're going to have to school football teammates and have deal with. It put a smile on my face." been friends since they were in eigbth championship game, Suh went legendary. Suh's, too. grade. Dyer played football at Western And that smile has not left bis and hopes to try out for NFL face. In 2009, he put up numbers teams this summer. He says Suh on unheard of for an interior defensive the field (the menacing behemoth) lineman. He led the team in tackles, is nothing like Suh off the field (the sacks, ridiculously athletic plays, "goofy" guy who dances awkwardly intimidations, quarterbacks picked up in tbe locker room), "Your personality and thrown, etc. changes," Dyer says. "To be good, to "The first time you watch him play, be great, you have to learn bow to turn it's like, Man this guy is pretty good," says that switch on and off. He turns that , a former Nebraska switch on wben he steps on the field." defensive lineman who played nine years in the NFL. "Tbe second time you watch bim play, it's like. Someone Suh didn't begin playing his nce upon a time, in the became Paul Bunyan in shoulder should reai/y try to block this guy. Tbe best football until Pelini took great state of Texas, there pads, Johnny Appleseed planting third time, it's like. You really want to over as Nebraska's coach. lived a young man named quarterbacks. "A lot of times, tbey O Colt McCoy. He was blond single-blocked Suh, and he destroyed and handsome and skilled. He played tbe kid in front of him," says Pbil quarterback for the migbty Texas Savage, former general manager of Longhoms. He won more games at the Browns, who broadcasted games quarterback than anyone in NCAA for Alabama last season. "They just history. And in one single game, the allowed him to basically obliterate 2009 , Suh their game plan." went legendary on him. Suh's performance was so amazing History will show tbat McCoy's that NFL scouts (and fans) have to li Longhoms beat Suh's Comhuskers on guard against overreacting. It was just il a last-second field goal. But history also one game. Still... he dang near won shows tbat Sub is still picking pieces the Heisman, which is unheard of for of McCoy out of his teeth. Suh bad AVi a defensive tackle, and three months sacks in the game and added seven later it seems preposterous that voters more tackles for loss. "It's a close game. considered bim only the fourth-best I'm an intense guy," says Carl Pelini. player in the land. He did become {FYI: Massive understatement tbere.) the first defensive player to win The "Tbere was a point în the tbird quarter ' player ofthe year tbat I actually started laughing on the award. headset. Bo was like, 'What's up?' I Whatever doubt existed that Suh said, "Are you watching this?' " would be tbe top pick vanished the Sub already was a big name in night of the Texas game, as he picked coUege football. With tbat game, be up and threw McCoy, again and again.

SP0RTINGNEWS.COM 03/01/20IG 33 he next chapter in Suh's larger-than- The best of the Blackshirts? life life will begin when he becomes the first player taken in the N FL Nebraska defensive players who went on draft—bragging rights he says he to play in the NFL weighed In on where Twants. The Rams have yet to formally confirm Ndannukong Suh stands in Cornhuskers history: this, but the nearly universally held opinion TRE V ALBERTS, L8,1990-93 is they don't need to. Suh is spending the time "Whoever gets a chance to have him as part of before the draft living in anonymity near Dallas, a their organization is going to be pretty lucky. ! didn't or at least in as much anonymity as a guy 6-4, get a chance to see all of the former Nebraska players 300 pounds who recently destroyed the state's compete, but I will tell you that i think it's a pretty safe golden-boy quarterback can muster. argument that not only was Ndamukong the most productive, but i He is working out twice a day, six days a week think he has to be considered the best defensive player who has ever at a facility run by former Olympic gold medal played in Lincoln, That's a pretty bold statement. 8ut he's uniquely sprinter Michael Johnson. Suh is perfecting the talented and productive, (which don't always go) hand in hand. He drills NFL teams will put him through at the put them together." Combine and further sculpting an impressive physique. Taking part in the Combine drills is GRANTWISTROM, LB, 1994-97 an interesting choice. He is already considered "For a guy to show up that much at his position. the best player available. He can't be drafted any he's a special football player. Lots of guys have higher than No. 1. But he can show how hard athletic ability. Very few guys pair their athletic ability he can work, how much better he can get, how with a work ethic that's going to take their game to devoted he can be. So that's what he's doing. the next level, and I feel like he does that." "You work for success," he says. "You don't just hope for it to be there one day and don't do JASON PETER, DT, 1994-97 "There was a trainer at the university who said. anything for it and hope you luck into it. If I You've got to meet this kid. He could be a top 10 pick. want to be the greatest, you've got to work like ' : lust a matter of him finding the right mentality.' you're the greatest." .. ¿ had lunch with him, i remember the first time I Seeing him up close and in person, that hard saw him sitting there at the table, it was like, Guyz tike this aren't work is evident. He looks like he is wearing hanging out on street corners. They are not a dime a dozen, that's permanent shoulder pads, his hands could palm for sure.... (Later) I was just trying to tell him. The sky's the limit. If a hot air balloon, and though he does not have you want to be a No. 1 pick, it's there.' i told him, 'You're gifted. For six-pack abs, he doesn't look like he swallowed a least, though if there's one thing Suh is not, it's you not to maximize the talent you have would be a waste.' ' keg, either. He might be the skinniest 300- normal. "I definitely don't want to be another pound man in NFL history. defensive tackle on the shelf," he says. "I want , DE, 1997-2000 NFL experts widely agree he will start to be something that's different. I like being "Physically he has all the tools. You see the sacks immediately, though they say stardom couid be different. That's one of the things that I'm so :d the big plays he makes in the run game, but he is happy (with) about myself. I'm different—I'm r also intercepting passes and blocking kicks. He has a few years away. "His game appears to be, at this point in his career, to be all-inclusive, very African, I'mjamaican, I'm American." done it all. 1 don't know if he is the best Nebraska broad-based," former Broncos general manager Whatever struggles he faces as a pro, he is defensive lineman because 1 played with some pretty good ones, but he is definitely up there. He is in the top five for sure.... For a college Ted Sundquist says. "Here's a guy who's strong, confident he will get through them. "1 think lean player he uses his hands very well. He doesn't ¡ust go out there and he can leverage the point, he plays the run well, work myself out of anything," he says. "I always rely on his athletic ability, which he has plenty of. He uses his hands he redirects inside well, he's got that quickness work to get better. 1 don't plan on going there to shed blockers, and that Is something that will help him In the NFL" on the first step to penetrate." being the best, but f want to end it being the best." Big numbers won't come for a while, in part That would be a storybook ending to Suh's , DE, 2003-06 legend. But that's looking too far ahead. So long as becauseyoungdefensivelinemen never put "He's real strong. You can see that. He's quick. He up big numbers and in part because neither his career involves picking up quarterbacks and O can play the run. he can rush the passer. I think he'll do veteran defensive tackles. Not normally, at throwing them, Suh wiü live happily ever after. - ' probably start his first year and eventually be a Pro -•'il ir:.. Bowler. I want to know what scheme they're running at Nebraska. The two defensive tackles led the team in tackles. I want to implement that scheme here with the Rams." -Matt Crossman Wouldn't Michael Jr. have been easier?

Every story about Ndamukong most of the Ngemba tribe), the word instruments employed by the unit or (en-DOM-ah-ken) Suh says it: ndamukong is a compound word after the role played by the unit on the Ndamukong means "house of spsars." made up of the words nda [house) battlefield. Ncíamuífong therefore refers It is the most unusual first name in and mukong (spears). So litefally, to the military unit that employed the draft, and its origin is as unique as ndamukong means/iouse of spears. spears as their principal weapon. When the man who bears it. But what really is a house of spears? the era of traditional warfare was over. the military officials continued to bear Pius N. Tamanji, an associate "The expression ndamukong äemes their titles, which were eventually professor of African languages from the military register. In the days adopted as family names. These and linguistics at the University of ofold, when intertribal warfare was names have since been handed down Yaounde in Cameroon (where Suh's a common practice In the Grassfields thefamily lineage from generation to father was born), explains; region of Cameroon, the military of each kingdom comprised various generation." "In theBafut Kingdom (andin units named after the w^ tactics or -MattCros^nan

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