OADTOTHE NI'L DRAFT he legend of The story of Nebraska's do-it-all defensive tackle 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 end^ 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, Ndamukong Suh grew to be a large and aggressive man, with the notable exception beinLg that the young Suh beats the holy hel! out of quarterbacks, 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. 30 SEEADIFFERENTGAME 03/01/20)0 ROAD TO THE 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? Sporting News 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 quarterback, 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. defense-minded coach Jim Schwartz 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 Sam Bradford, 08, Oklahoma They finally said yes. As a 10th grader, he joined the New coach Mike Shanahan 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 Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee he played with and against. He Berry could be a great cornerback 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 Russell Okung,0T, Oklahoma State a basketball moment from those 7. Browns Joe Haden, 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 Trent Williams. OT, Oklahoma time—are not supposed to excel *10. Jaguars Brandon Graham. OE. Michigan at basketball. But he did. At one *10. Broncos Dez Bryant. 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 Brandon Spikes, 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 Ricky Sapp. OLB. Clemson best available defensive tackles; elite interior pass rusher. He has room to 23. Packers Bryan Bulaga. 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 defensive end 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. Jeff Owens, Georgia The junior has rare physical talents and Projected: Second round 30. Vikings Taylor Mays. 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.