— The National Football Foundation (NFF) has officially announced its 2025 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, and one name generating significant buzz is former Nebraska defensive powerhouse Ndamukong Suh. The release, made on May 30, 2024, includes 77 former players and 9 standout coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, with Suh standing out as one of the most dominant defenders in modern college football history.
Suh’s inclusion marks a pivotal moment in the recognition of defensive excellence at the collegiate level. During his time at Nebraska from 2005 to 2009, Suh earned a reputation as a relentless force on the defensive line. His senior season in 2009 remains one of the most decorated in college football history. That year, Suh was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy—an honor rarely achieved by defensive linemen—and took home multiple national awards, including the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and Chuck Bednarik Award.
Perhaps most famously, Suh’s dominant performance in the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game against Texas, where he recorded 4.5 sacks and 12 tackles, solidified his legacy as one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the sport’s history. Though Nebraska narrowly lost the game, Suh’s showing became an iconic highlight of that college football season.
Former teammates, coaches, and fans have long advocated for Suh’s enshrinement, citing not only his statistical dominance—215 career tackles, 24 sacks, and 57 tackles for loss—but also his game-changing presence and leadership on the field. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule, speaking at a recent alumni event, praised Suh’s candidacy: “He changed how offenses schemed. He was the type of player who made everyone around him better.”
Following his collegiate career, Suh went on to have a highly successful NFL tenure, including a Super Bowl championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, it’s his time in Lincoln that will forever define his football legacy.
Final selections for the 2025 Hall of Fame class will be announced in early 2025, with the official induction ceremony set to take place later in the year. As Suh’s name returns to the spotlight, many believe the time has come to permanently etch his legacy among the legends of the college gridiron.
If elected, Suh would become the 20th Cornhusker to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, continuing a proud tradition of excellence for the Nebraska program.
