Fansided

25 best Pac-12 football players of the last 25 years

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 26
Next
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 30: Defensive tackle Will Sutton #90 of the Arizona State Sun Devils celebrates with the Territorial Cup after defeating the Arizona Wildcats 58-21 in the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 30, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ – NOVEMBER 30: Defensive tackle Will Sutton #90 of the Arizona State Sun Devils celebrates with the Territorial Cup after defeating the Arizona Wildcats 58-21 in the college football game at Sun Devil Stadium on November 30, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

18. Will Sutton, DT, Arizona State

The only two-time winner of the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Award, Sutton dominated the line of scrimmage to fuel the Arizona State defense in 2012 and 2013.

Sutton played at one of the best teams in the nation at Centennial High School in Corona, California, alongside fellow standouts Taylor Martinez and Vontaze Burfict. Following an undefeated senior season in 2008, Both Burfict and Sutton committed to play for Dennis Erickson at Arizona State.

After serving as a role player as a true freshman, Sutton was ruled academically ineligible for the 2010 season. Sutton lost nearly 40 pounds during his year away from the team, helping him turn into a force as a junior with 23.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks to rank near the top of the national leaderboard in both categories.

Rather than head to the NFL, Sutton returned to Arizona State for his senior season and posted a strong yet not nearly as remarkable season with 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. Both performances earned Sutton a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year nod, in addition to unanimous All-American honors in 2012.

Sutton’s draft stock took a hit, as he slipped all the way to the 82nd overall pick by the Chicago Bears and is yet to record a sack.

Home/College Football