Sutton finding his step in NFL, just as at SMU
The news hit Courtland Sutton with surprise and appreciation.
The Broncos’ rookie secondround dtaft pick spent three seasons at Southern Methodist under the guidance of wide receivers coach Justin Stepp. The Mustangs rose from one win during Sutton’s freshman season to seven victories in his final year. Sutton grew close with the Stepp family, and then Justin’s wife, Brooke, gave birth to their first child this spring.
A boy, named Courtland. “The fact that he thought so highly of me to name his first son after me, I thought that was a huge honor,” Sutton said. “Coach (Stepp) always tells me, ‘If this kid grows up to be like you, then I know I did something right.’ So I try to make sure I continue to carry myself the right way, so that when (Courtland) gets older, he’ll continue to have great things to say about me.”
When considering Sutton’s star potential in the NFL as 6foot3, 219 pound target with a 35½inch vertical leap, it’s important to understand the person behind the face mask. Sutton is here, sitting in his NFL locker room reflecting on this football path, because of the adversity he handled along the way. Sutton has folks like the Stepps to thank for pushing him to new heights. The appreciation is mutual.
Recruited as a safety to SMU from Brenham, Texas, after the Colorado Buffaloes pulled his scholarship offer, Sutton joined a program in turmoil. Mustangs coach June Jones resigned two losses into his 2014 freshman season. Sutton also only appeared in two games before getting shut down with a medical redshirt. One year later, Chad Morris took over as SMU head coach with Stepp leading the wide receivers group. Sutton transitioned to the position fulltime shortly after watching his routinely breathtaking athleticism in practice.
“(Sutton) had really good ball skills, but a lot to learn,” Morris said. “His
route running was very rusty, as you would expect. But there was something there. You loved his competitive drive and his want to learn.”
Progress came slowly. SMU won two games the following year with Sutton leading the team in catches, yards receiving and touchdowns. Sutton’s junior year bore five wins, another statstuffing performance and, instead of declaring for the NFL draft, he rejoined SMU to finish the job and reach a bowl game.
“Each year, I would get to watch each group lead and figure out which way was the best way when I got that chance to become a leader of a team,” Sutton said. “When we saw certain things slip, we would address it — even if it was an older guy, because we didn’t want to get back to the point where we were.”
Added Morris: “If Courtland stood up in front of the team, asked for something or said we need to do something, it was because he was on the front lines doing it himself. That really hit home just to watch him grow as a young man through the culture that we established, even early on in his career when we were building.”
The Mustangs did finally earned a berth in the 2017 Frisco Bowl against Louisiana Tech, just as Morris and his staff, including Stepp, were hired at Arkansas. Stepp was not available for interview, per team media policy.
Sutton, who finished second in SMU history in career touchdowns (31), third in yards receiving (3,220) and sixth in receptions (195), took his mentors’ lessons to heart as he approached a rookie season with the Broncos — and soon discovered similarities between his old college locker room and his new home.
“We knew we didn’t want to be in that same spot at SMU where we were when we went 111 and 210,” Sutton said. “It’s the same way some of the guys talk about it here. They know they don’t want to have that (511 season) again, and they know what we should be doing to avoid that.”
Sutton is still finding his step in the NFL. He has hauled in eight receptions for 142 yards, including catches of 51, 45 and 37 yards, but has yet to find the end zone.
Sutton also recorded a drop against Baltimore. But it’s the finer details of his game that have impressed veterans in the room.
“He’s a good player,” wide re ceiver Emmanuel Sanders said. “He’s going to be in this league a long time. He loves to study. He works his butt off. He had great hands and great speed. He has great routes. He’s definitely a dynamic player and the Broncos got lucky to get him, because I thought he was a firstround talent.”
Said quarterback Case Keenum: “Court is a great target. He’s a big, strong kid that can run and runs really well. We’ve put some pressure on some defenses down the field — which is really good to have.”
Sutton is more selfcritical. He believes each week has been a step forward, but “there is always something to learn at this level and the game changes so much seriestoseries. I’m just trying to continue to make the best version of myself for this offense.”
The Courtland name, Sutton says, was picked by his mother, Phelicia, who caught it in the credits of the 1994 classic family movie hit “Little Rascals,” starring child actor Courtland Mead as the hilarious character “Uhhuh.”
She thought it was unique. Sutton agrees.
Now, setting an example for young Courtland Stepp requires a legacy tied equally between community service and football.
So Sutton has played an active role in the Broncos’ outreach programs to begin the season working with the Boys & Girls Club and Special Olympics.
“It’s more about who you are off the field that matters. You can’t just be a football player,” Sutton said. “And I’m not perfect, at all, and I know that. But you’ve got to make sure you’re being a complete human and a person that people want to gravitate toward.”