In 2009, Ndamukong Suh (pronounced En-dom-ah-ken Soo) became the top senior NFL prospect.

It took time to get acclimated to the college game (and get healthy), but by the middle of his junior season, Suh began fulfilling the high expectations Husker fans had heaped on the former Parade All-American from Portland.

Suh decided to take a medical redshirt two games into his freshman season to fix a torn meniscus suffered in high school. He came back strong in 2006 with 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, coming off the bench in all 14 contests at nose tackle. Knee surgery in the spring of 2007 and a disappointing end to his redshirt sophomore campaign gave Suh plenty to strive for as a junior.

All the negative talk faded away in 2008. The All-Big 12 pick led the team in tackles with 76, including 16 for loss and 7.5 sacks. He also showed great awareness knocking down three passes, intercepting two and blocking two kicks.

Suh took his game to another level in 2009. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, winning the Nagurski, Outland, Bednarik, Lombardi awards, and earning consensus All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year honors. He again led the Huskers in tackles (85, 24 for loss, 12 sacks), broke up 10 passes, forced three fumbles and blocking three kicks. His dominating performance in the Big 12 Championship game loss to Texas (4.5 sacks) helped to fill an already crowded bandwagon.

Scouts appreciate Suh's bullish strength and height. But his agility -- at 300-plus pounds -- separates him from other players. Every team would find a way to use his talent. A team using a 3-4 base defense could play him at defensive end, while 4-3 teams could see Suh starring at the three-technique or on the nose. Without picking nits, it's difficult to find faults in his game. Suh likely will be the first or second player drafted in April.

Pass rush: Top-notch pass rusher with ideal height and length to affect passing lanes and wrap up quarterbacks. Constantly works forward until the ball is out of the quarterback's hand. Uses strong, active hands to jerk his man aside and keep blockers off-balance. Spins off single blocks and is quick enough to get into the pocket. Also able to split double-teams to at least get a hand in the quarterback's face. Recognizes screens quickly -- comes off pass rush to get to the ball or the sideline. Good awareness to get his hands up in passing lane to knock down passes. Has fair hands for the interception, especially given his size. Greatly increased his conditioning and stamina as a senior and seemed capable of playing every down. Difficult for right tackles to handle one-on-one on the edge as a 3-4 defensive end because of his strength and athleticism. Dropped into coverage at times and shows surprising agility and awareness.

Run defense: Very difficult to move and center-guard tandems can be blown up. Excellent backfield awareness. Holds up his man and keeps eyes up to make plays on the ball, even when engaged. Excellent footwork moving down the line on stretch plays, and will get off of blocks or explode through the line to make the tackle. His pads start off too high at tops, losing his anchor. Can protect his feet against the cut block. Hustles to be the second or third man in the pile and finish plays.

Explosion: Good quickness off the snap, especially if the quarterback doesn't change up cadence, but does not have an elite first step. Pops into his man's jersey and recoils if necessary. Quick enough to be a pass-rush threat and maintain the corner as a 3-4 defensive end.

Strength: Strong bull rush to push the pocket, even when double-teamed. Able to rip off his man with upper-body strength and hands, freeing himself to make a play. Greatly improved his strength against the run in 2009. Used as a goal-line fullback because he gets low enough to push the pile.

Tackling: Rare tackling ability and effort for a defensive lineman, leading his team in tackles the last two years. Very athletic for his size; able to change direction, break down and explode into ballcarriers. Wraps well with his long, strong arms; tough to escape his grasp -- even with one arm. Hustles downfield on short throws. Chases down the line.

Intangibles: Intelligent, low-key and mature. Suh became a vocal leader for the Huskers as a senior. Has improved his work habits and on-field toughness during his time in Lincoln. He's respected by teammates and looked up to by the younger players.

NFL Comparison: Richard Seymour, New England Patriots

Second team All-Big 12. In 2008, Suh was the first Nebraska defensive lineman to lead the team in tackles since 1973, and his 76 total tackles were the most by a Husker lineman since 1992. He posted 7.5 sacks and his 19 tackles for loss were the eighth-best total in school history. The play of the Portland, Ore., native helped Nebraska finish second in the Big 12 in total defense at 349.8 yards per game, an improvement of 126 yards per game from the 2007 campaign. Suh also helped Nebraska record 35 sacks on the season, 22 more than its 2007 total. While controlling the center of the line is Suh's primary job, he also used his athleticism to provide several game-changing plays during his junior season. Suh intercepted a pair of passes and returned both of them for touchdowns, including a dramatic game-clinching score in the regular-season finale against Colorado. He had a career game against Kansas that earned him Big 12 Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors. Suh also became a fixture as a fullback in short-yardage situations late in the season, and against the Jayhawks he showed his athletic ability when he caught a two-yard touchdown pass. Suh showed no ill effects from knee surgery that kept him out of spring practice, starting all 13 games in 2008 and making 39 solo stops among his tackle total. His sack and tackle for loss numbers led the team, and he added a forced fumble, six quarterback hurries, three breakups and two blocked kicks. Suh finished the season with nine games of five or more tackles, including six times in Big 12 Conference play, and had at least one tackle for loss in 11 of 13 games. His 5.8 tackles per game led all Big 12 defensive linemen by 1.4 tackles per game. Suh recorded his first major highlight against San Jose State when he picked off a first-quarter Spartan pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown to give NU a 14-6 lead. A week later, Suh registered his first two sacks of the season and forced a fumble in a 38-7 victory over New Mexico State. Suh made seven tackles, including two tackles for loss against Missouri, and also made seven tackles each against Baylor and at Oklahoma. Against the Bears, Suh added his second career blocked kick. He exploded for a career game against Kansas, finishing with 12 total tackles, including five solo stops. He had 2.5 sacks for 18 yards in losses and four tackles for loss totaling 19 yards. His 12 tackles were the most by a defensive lineman in three seasons while the 2.5 sacks were the most by any Husker since 2003 and the four tackles for loss were the most by an NU defender in 38 games. Suh made five tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack at Kansas State, then capped the regular season with three tackles and the crucial touchdown against Colorado. He closed his season in style in the Gator Bowl victory over Clemson. Suh made eight total tackles, including six solo stops. He tied his career high with four tackles for loss and had two sacks for 19 yards. Suh also blocked a second-quarter Tiger field-goal attempt, his second blocked kick of 2008.

However, the 6-4, 300-pound Suh will have to wait until fall to establish himself in NU's new defense as knee surgery in early March will sideline him for the spring season. Suh is expected to be at full strength for the start of fall camp in August. Suh held down the interior of the defensive line, playing in all 12 contests with 11 starts in 2007. He finished the year with 34 tackles, including 20 solo stops, and had four games with four or more tackles. Suh made six tackles for loss, all in a four-game stretch early in the season. Suh played a key role in NU's 20-17 win at Wake Forest, recording two tackles for loss. Both of his stops behind the line occurred inside the Nebraska 10-yard line, one forcing Wake to kick a field goal and the other helping result in a game-saving interception in the fourth quarter. Suh had four tackles and a tackle for loss against top-ranked USC, then made a career-high six tackles, including a TFL and recovered a fumble against Ball State. In Nebraska's win against Iowa State, Suh had four solo stops, two tackles for loss and a six-yard sack. He added three tackles and blocked an extra point against Texas A&M, then closed the year with five tackles and two pass breakups at Colorado.

Suh played in all 14 games and was among the team leaders in both tackles for loss and sacks. He made 19 total tackles, including eight for loss and 3.5 sacks for 37 yards. Suh also had a pair of quarterback hurries, caused a fumble and had an interception at Kansas State. He totaled at least one tackle for loss in five of seven games to start the year, including a three-TFL effort featuring 1.5 sacks against Troy. He added three stops against both Nicholls State and Kansas State, when he totaled two more TFLs and one sack against the Wildcats. Suh also recorded NU's only sack against USC. He also saw time on special teams as a blocker on the place-kicking unit.

Suh was one of a school-record 13 true freshmen to see action in 2005. He played in the first two games and had an assisted tackle against Wake Forest before missing the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery.

Suh was a two-way star at Grant High School, where he earned Parade All-America honors and was voted the 2004 Portland Interscholastic League Defensive Player of the Year and the state Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year. As a senior, Suh had 65 tackles, including 10 sacks and recovered four fumbles. He also starred on the offensive line for Coach William Griffin, helping the Generals to a 9-3 record and a berth in the state quarterfinals. Suh earned first-team all-league honors on both offense and defense, and in addition to his defensive accolades was a first-team all-state pick on offense by at least one media outlet. Suh also earned first-team All-PIL honors on both offense and defense as a junior and was an honorable-mention all-state pick as a junior.

Rivals.com listed Suh as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Oregon, the sixth-best defensive tackle in the country, and the 51st-best overall prospect in the nation. Suh was one of seven 2005 NU signees who played in the U.S. Army All-American Game, where he lined up on the offensive line. Suh also played basketball and was a track standout for Grant High. He earned honorable-mention all-league honors in basketball as a junior and senior. In track he was the district shot put champion in 2004, and won the OSAA Class 4A shot put title in 2005 with a school-record throw of 61-4. For his all-around athletic accomplishments, Suh was a finalist for the Portland Tribune's Athlete of the Year. Suh chose Nebraska over California, and also visited Miami, Oregon State and Mississippi State.

Suh's mother, Bernadette, is from Jamaica, while his father, Michael, hails from Cameroon. In the Ngema tribe in Cameroon, Ndamukong means "House of Spears." Suh was born on Jan. 6, 1987, and is majoring in construction management. He has volunteered with Nebraska's local hospital visits.