Tyrell Sutton

Tyrell DelShawn Sutton, (born December 19, 1986 in Akron, Ohio), is an American football running back for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Northwestern.

Early years
Sutton was born to the parents of Connie and Anthony Sutton Sr. His brother, Tony, played football at The College of Wooster.

Sutton attended Archbishop Hoban High. While attending, he rushed for 9,426 yards, an Ohio record. Also, his career high of 505 yards is the third most in Ohio history. Furthermore, Sutton broke the school rushing record three times.

Awards
 * 2004 Mr. Football Award.
 * 2004 Team and Offensive MVP.
 * Two-time Akron Beacon Journal Player of the Year.
 * Two-time first-team all-state selection.

College career
While attending Northwestern University, he majored in Communications.

As a freshman, Sutton rushed for 1,474 yards and 16 touchdowns. His rushing total was the third highest in Northwestern's history. He fell one game short of joining Emmit Smith, Marshall Faulk, and Adrian Peterson as the only NCAA freshman players to achieve 1,000 yards in 7 games. In addition to rushing, he caught 44 passes for 396 yards and 2 touchdowns. His freshman year awards included the Sporting News' Offensive Freshman of the Year and First-Team Freshman All-American and Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Although injured as a sophomore, he rushed for 1,000 yards and 5 touchdowns and caught 40 passes for 261 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was the team co-MVP and had an honorable mention at the All-Big Ten selection.

Because of a lower-leg injury early in his junior year, he played in only 5 games, and rushed for only 522 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 30 pass receptions for 282 yards.

As a senior, Sutton rushed for 776 yards and 6 touchdowns before a wrist injury sidelined him for the rest of the 2008 season. Sutton underwent surgery on October 28 and returned as the starting back for the Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. He rushed for 114 yards in that game to bring his total to 890 yards. In addition, he caught 30 passes for 305 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Sutton concluded his career as the second all-time leading rusher at Northwestern with 3,886 yards, and second all-time with 5,138 all-purpose yards. Sutton is also the second player in Wildcat's history to achieve 1,000 receiving and rushing yards. Furthermore, his 149 receptions for 1,244 yards is the most for any back.

Pre-draft

 * 40 Yard Dash : 4.75 seconds
 * Vertical Jump : 33.0 inches
 * Broad Jump : 114.0 inches
 * 3 Cone Drill : 6.94 seconds
 * 20 Yard Shuttle : 4.32 seconds

Green Bay Packers
Though he was invited to the NFL Combine, he was not drafted. On May 1, 2009, the Green Bay Packers signed him as an undrafted free agent. On September 5, 2009, he was released when the Packers trimmed their roster to 53 players.

Carolina Panthers
Although the Packers intended to re-sign Sutton to the practice squad if he cleared waivers, Sutton was claimed by the Carolina Panthers on September 6, 2009. He returns kick-offs for the Panthers.