LINCOLN, Neb.—Heisman Trophy finalist Ndamukong Suh says he was glad to go on his whirlwind tour to pick up his bounty of national awards.
Nebraska’s star defensive lineman sure was glad to come home, too.
A visibly weary Suh on Tuesday joined his teammates at practice for the first time in 11 days. After his career performance in the Big 12 championship game against Texas on Dec. 5, Suh visited four cities in six days.
The last stop was New York for the Heisman ceremony. He finished fourth in voting behind Alabama running back Mark Ingram, the best showing by a defensive player since Michigan’s Charles Woodson won in 1997.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s an offensive ballot,” Suh said. “Offensive guys are going to get most of the votes. It’s fine. I wish I could have gotten more. I wasn’t hurt by it.”
The practice field was a welcome sight to Suh, who didn’t get much chance to stretch his legs other than when he slipped away to hotel workout rooms. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior flew commercial and was cramped sitting in coach.
“I’m tired of traveling. I hate traveling,” said Suh, who added to his honors Tuesday when he was announced as a unanimous pick to The Associated Press All-America team.
Suh said he didn’t go soft after spending a week on the road.
“I’m in fine shape,” he said. “I don’t think I could lose my wind in a week.”
Suh started last week in Charlotte, N.C., where he received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. He was in Houston on Wednesday to pick up the Lombardi Award. Then it was on to Orlando, Fla., for the Outland Trophy and Bednarik Award. The week ended with a Friday-Saturday trip to New York.
In addition to practicing four days this week, he’s finishing up final exams, and he’ll graduate Saturday with his degree in construction management.
He said he plans to spend part of January at home in Portland, Ore., before he begins training for his future in the NFL. Suh is projected to be one of the first players taken in April’s draft.
The 20th-ranked Huskers (9-4) are getting ready for their Dec. 30 game against No. 22 Arizona (8-4) in the Holiday Bowl.
Suh said he and his teammates want Nebraska to win a 10th game for the first time since 2003.
“It’s a number, but it’s an important number,” Suh said. “I’ve never had a 10-win season. I want to leave that mark and have it for guys to match or to beat in years to come, hopefully beat it by quite a few games.”
Receiver Brandon Kinnie said the respect Suh commands from teammates was illustrated last week in the players’ lounge when the room became quiet and all activity stopped when Suh appeared on television.
Kinnie said his appreciation for Suh’s accomplishments probably will grow over time.
“My dad called me and said, ‘You don’t understand what he does because you watch from sideline. We watch it on TV and he manhandles people like a monster out there.’
“As players, we see it, but we don’t see it-see it. When I see the highlights on TV, it’s like, ‘Did he just throw that man like that?’ It’s kind of shocking when you look at it.”
Suh is coming off an outing against Texas in which he matched his career high with 12 tackles, had 4 1/2 sacks and two quarterback hurries. His personal highlight came in the second half when he grabbed Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, twirled him around and threw him to the turf.
The Huskers lost 13-12, but the game undoubtedly propelled Suh to his impressive finish in Heisman voting.
Safety Larry Asante said defensive players feel as if they share in Suh’s success.
“We play team defense,” Asante said, “and we felt like he represented us at the Heisman.”
