LINCOLN, Neb.—Nebraska nose tackle Ndamukong Suh caught a pass for a touchdown against Kansas Saturday, had a career-high 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
So what would he rather have, a touchdown or a sack?
“Sack, that’s my job,” Suh said after Nebraska?s 45-35 win over the Jayhawks. “If I can help the offense, I’m all good with it. But my main thing is defense.”
Suh’s teammates and coaches, however, said the big man loves being in the backfield.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson joked that Suh had drawn up some plays that would get him the ball when he comes in as a blocking back on short-yardage plays.
Defensive coordinator and line coach Carl Pelini said he had to remind Suh of where he belongs. “I told him, ‘Don’t forget you’re a defensive lineman, not a running back.’ ”
Quarterback Joe Ganz, who threw the 2-yard pass that Suh took into the end zone, talked about getting the ball to Suh more often.
“He’s such a good athlete and he’s so strong that not a lot of people want to take him on as a lead blocker,” Ganz said. “We figured we’d give him a little love and put him out on that flat route and get a touchdown for banging around so much. He’s good and I’m sure that package (for Suh) is just going to get bigger and bigger.”
That kind of praise came from all of Suh’s coaches and teammates.
“I think, obviously, Suh had a huge game, big game, but he’s been doing that all year long,” said coach Bo Pelini.
“He?s got a great spirit about him,” Watson said. “He?s a heck of a football player. It was fun making that call knowing he might get the ball.”
Said Carl Pelini: “He plays with great technique and he’s got great strength in there,” Carl Pelini said. “When you’ve got both those things, you’re going to be a force.”
Suh was a force, as was the entire Husker defensive line, which was challenged by Carl Pelini to dominate the game.
Nebraska sacked Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing five times and the Huskers had 10 tackles for losses.
“Any time you can get pressure with a four-man rush like we did, it’s going to make everything better,” Carl Pelini said. “If your front four is playing at that level, it’s going to make you a better football team.”
As for Suh, he was critical of his play, saying he missed a tackle that allowed Kansas to score its final touchdown.
On his touchown, Suh said he didn’t know he would get the ball until he caught Ganz’s eye as the play unfolded, then he made sure to catch the ball and get it in the end zone.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Suh said. “I appreciate that.”
