In a separate award from the Associated Press' NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Detroit Lions' DT Ndamukong Suh is up for the Pepsi Rookie of the Year award given out to the NFL's most outstanding rookie, offense or defense, as voted online by the fans.
↵Here's the write up voters will see for Suh:
↵Suh led the Lions, NFL rookies and all defensive tackles with 10.0 sacks and recorded 66 tackles (49 solo), three passes defensed, one forced fumble, one interception and one fumble returned for a touchdown. Suh became the second rookie defensive tackle in NFL history to record 10.0 sacks. He also was the only rookie in the NFL to record a sack, an interception and a fumble return for a touchdown this season. He was selected to the 2011 NFC Pro Bowl team as a starter. Suh, who attended the University of Nebraska, was nominated for four Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week awards, winning once.↵
Suh is competing against Rams QB Sam Bradford, Browns CB Joe Haden, Patriots CB Devin McCourty and Buccaneers WR Mike Williams. I think it's safe to say that Suh's stiffest competition is Bradford and Williams. Bradford's 18 touchdown passes tied him for fifth all-time amongst NFL rookie QBs, while Williams was the first rookie WR to have 10-plus touchdown receptions since Randy Moss and is the first rookie ever to have a reception in each of his team's games.
↵A defensive player has never won the award, but it's only been around since 2002. There hasn't been as dominant of a defensive rookie in the NFL as Suh's been this year, so his chances are pretty good, especially since the fans are voting on it and Suh is more of a household name than his rookie peers.