After much speculation and debate, Sun Devil defensive tackle Will Sutton decided to return to Tempe, Ariz., for his senior season, instead of bolting early for the NFL.
Sutton’s return surely put a smile on head coach Todd Graham’s face, and with his return comes more accolades.
The Sporting News’ Matt Hayes released his list of the top 25 players in college football, and the ever-present Sutton comes in at No. 6 on the list.
“The best interior pass rusher in college football in more than a decade,” Hayes said. “A disruptive force against the run and pass who would get much more publicity if he played anywhere in the SEC.”
Sutton is coming off a 2012 season which saw him get 13 sacks and a Pac-12 leading 23.5 tackles for loss. He was also named the Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year, along with being a consensus All-American.
Scouts Inc’s Kevin Weidl shared Hayes’ sentiment on Sutton and the skills he possesses on the football field.
“I could watch Will Sutton all day long,” Weidl said via a tweet. “Sutton lacks ideal size/anchor. But he plays (with) excellent pad level/leverage and flashes explosive upper body power.”
There are seven Pac-12 players on the Sporting News list, including Sutton: USC WR Marquise Lee (2nd), UCLA LB Anthony Barr (8th), Oregon QB Marcus Mariota (14th), Arizona RB Ka’Deem Carey (20th), Oregon RB De’Anthony Thomas (22nd) and UCLA QB Brett Hundley (23rd).
