Healthy Sutton speaks up

As soon as they left the interview room Monday, Northwestern tackle Dylan Thiry turned toward Tyrell Sutton, shook his head and smiled.

"Vanilla?" Thiry asked, half-amused and half-annoyed. "You had to call them vanilla."

Moments earlier, Sutton had called Iowa a "vanilla team." The Wildcats running back insisted he was talking about Iowa's steadfast philosophy, but his comments are sure to reach the Hawkeyes' bulletin board before Saturday's game at Ryan Field (11 a.m., ESPN2).

Sutton's words didn't sit well with Thiry, but his bluster could be a good sign for Northwestern. To have Sutton speaking his mind suggests he's regaining his old form.

"You never find somebody of his size or stature with that swagger," guard Adam Crum said.

Six weeks ago, there were no bold words from Sutton. Only tears.

Sutton swears he was ready Sept. 22, when he took the field for warmups against Ohio State after missing six quarters with a right foot/ankle injury. His return had been scripted perfectly: Akron native, final collegiate game in his home state, former Mr. Ohio winner passed over by the Buckeyes in recruiting.

Then, it happened. His foot landed awkwardly, the pain returned, and the comeback was over before it started.

"I definitely cried in the locker room," Sutton said. "Being back home, playing against friends on the opposite team, playing in front of the hometown crowd was something I really wanted to do."

Wide receiver Eric Peterman, one of Sutton's best friends, consoled the browbeaten back.

"I cried to him," Sutton said. "To have him right by my side, I was grateful."

It was the low point in a season filled with frustration and growth for Sutton, who missed most of training camp with a hamstring strain and sat out five games with the foot injury before returning Oct. 19 against Eastern Michigan. He started Saturday at Purdue and rushed for 72 yards.

Was Sutton ever depressed?

"All the time," he said. "If I'm not playing football, everything is wrong in the world to me. I've hit so many highs and lows this season, it's been ridiculous. I need therapy or something."

His misery was obvious during NU's loss to Michigan. Sutton stood alone on the sideline, and some fans questioned whether he was sulking.

"It was a depressing stage," he said.

The shift began when Sutton watched NU's 48-41 overtime win at Michigan State on TV. He marveled at backup running back Omar Conteh, who "completely tore it apart."

Sutton began to get more involved, helping Conteh and Brandon Roberson.

"During the games, I would tell them what I saw, ask them what they saw," he said. "I was being more of a team player than I ever had been."

Applying for a medical redshirt became a possibility for Sutton, who said the foot won't be 100 percent until the off-season (he doesn't think surgery is needed).

"I'm sure (redshirting) was brought up," he said. "You always have doubts. … it's always on the coaches, and the coaches felt I was able to perform well enough."

With three games left, Sutton is focused on getting the seniors to a bowl and leading younger players.

"Being in one game and a maybe a quarter, you get the feeling that you kind of let 'em down," he said. "I didn't get a chance to back up my words."

His chance comes Saturday.