Best individual seasons of the last 20 years: No. 10 - Ndamukong Suh in 2009

Over a two-week period, theScore's NCAAF editors will be taking a look at the best individual seasons across the college football landscape during the last 20 years, focusing specifically on players from the Power 5 conferences.

Each day, we will be counting down the top 10 that college football has had to offer over the last two decades.

No. 10 - Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh's 2009 season

2009 was Nebraska's most successful season in recent memory. Residing in the Big 12, the Cornhuskers featured the country's top overall defense, which gave opposing offensive coordinators constant headaches. Nebraska surrendered just 10.4 points per game en route to a 10-4 record, conference championship appearance, and 33-0 Holiday Bowl victory over Arizona.

Leading the team's defensive dominance was Ndamukong Suh, who had been a solid defender for the Cornhuskers from 2006-08, but his final year was his best. The defensive tackle was a force as a run defender, pass-rusher, and made an impact on special teams as well, leading to countless accolades.

After his remarkable final collegiate season, the Detroit Lions selected Suh second overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The stats

Suh led all defensive tackles with 12 sacks in 2009, displaying his ability to dominate interior linemen and wrap up opposing quarterbacks. He also ranked sixth in the nation with 20.5 tackles for loss.

What made the season so special?

His consistent dominance of opposing offensive lines and ability to single-handedly keep his team in games. Because Nebraska's offense wasn't among the NCAA's most potent in 2009, Suh had to carry his team more than a player at his position is usually asked to.

Box-score statistics are visually appealing, but Suh's level of consistency at his position was incredibly rare. He truly looked like a grown man playing against boys on more than one occasion. At 6-foot-4 and 310 lbs, Suh was bigger, stronger, and somehow quicker than anyone he lined up against. Watching the mammoth defender dominate his opponents added a new element of fun to Big 12 contests. It wasn't the same players from the same top-tier teams such as Alabama, Florida, Texas, or USC dominating national headlines. This was a kid from Nebraska.

Suh's 2009 season entered legendary status during the Big 12 Championship game versus the Longhorns. The Cornhuskers lost a nail-biter, 13-12, but their star defensive tackle saved his best for the matchup. Suh destroyed Texas, accumulating six tackles for loss and an incredible 4.5 sacks. His performance is still remembered in Austin. Current Longhorns head coach Tom Herman, then with Iowa State, spoke about Suh's ability last July: "(Suh) was the most dominant football player I have ever seen, probably still to this day … on a college football field."

His accolades also set his campaign apart from his peers. Suh was not only a first-team All-American in 2009, he was awarded the AP Player of the Year Award, Chuck Bednarik Award (best defender in college football), Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Football Writers' Association of America's best defender), and the Outland Trophy (best interior linemen) for his efforts.

The Moments

Suh almost single-handedly destroys Texas.

Top 10

• No. 9 - Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel
• No. 8 - Auburn QB Cam Newton
• No. 7 - Arizona State DE Terrell Suggs
• No. 6 - USC RB Reggie Bush
• No. 5 - Clemson QB Deshaun Watson
• No. 4 - Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree
• No. 3 - Texas RB Ricky Williams
• No. 2 - Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey
• No. 1 - Florida QB Tim Tebow

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)