Rookie of the Year: Terrell Suggs, 2003

Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Age:  21 (Oct. 11)

College: Arizona State

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 260

Prelude:

A star defensive end in college, registering 24 sacks in 2002, Suggs entered the NFL draft following his junior year and was chosen by the Ravens in the first round (10^th overall) in anticipation of converting him into a pass rushing outside linebacker.

2003 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 12 [7, tied with Mike Rucker]

Most sacks, game – 2 vs. Seattle 11/23, vs. Cincinnati 12/7, at Cleveland 12/21

Interceptions – 1

Int. yards – 11

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 4

Forced fumbles – 5

Tackles – 18

Assists – 8

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff vs. Tennessee)

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Ravens went 10-6 to finish first in the AFC North while leading the NFL in sacks (47). Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Tennessee Titans (20-17).

Aftermath:

Suggs had 10 sacks and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004, but with a change in the defensive scheme was shifted to end in ’05. He received Pro Bowl recognition again in 2006 as he garnered 9.5 sacks as a hybrid DE/OLB. Always a fine pass rusher, he showed improvement in coverage and against the run. Following an off-year in 2007 in which he again was returned to outside linebacker, he regained Pro Bowl form in ’08. A knee injury hindered Suggs in 2009 but he came back with an 11-sack Pro Bowl season in 2010 and was All-NFL and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. However, an offseason Achilles injury sidelined him for the first six games of the 2012 season, although he returned for the second half of the year and the playoff run to the Super Bowl, if at reduced effectiveness. For the first 10 years of his career, Suggs accumulated 84.5 sacks and seven interceptions and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times.

--

Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).