Nike Signs Projected Top Pick Ndamukong Suh to Endorsement Deal

Ndamukong Suh hasn’t been drafted yet, but he already has a major endorsement deal. According to The Oregonian, Nike has added the Nebraska defensive tackle to its roster of NFL superpowers. Suh is projected to be a top pick this April — perhaps even first overall — and joins other Nike NFL players such as Tom Brady, Troy Polamalu, Adrian Peterson, Brian Urlacher, LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Fitzgerald.

As a senior, Suh was the AP National Player of the Year, a first-team All-American, Defensive Player of the Year and a Heisman Trophy finalist. He is also the second player in the Big 12 to ever earn Defensive Player of the Year and Lineman of the Year awards in the same season.

He wrapped up his final year as a Husker with 85 total tackles, 12 sacks and one interception.

Suh’s first Nike gig is a Web cast on Friday, Feb. 5, with other Nike athletes to kick off the 2010 Nike High School Combine Tour. These events are free and open to high school football players at any level across the country.

According to Darren Rovell, CNBC’s sports business reporter, the newly signed Suh is expected to build on Nike’s success in the training category. The company has spent the past several years testing football players at the grassroots level by using standardized SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness) ratings.

Not only is Suh’s talent alluring for Nike, but he is from Oregon, where the company is based.