Kevin Norwood Commits
by outsidethesidelines on Dec 16, 2008 5:38 PM CST
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PrintAccording to published reports by several recruiting sites, Kevin Norwood has committed to Alabama.
Norwood is a wide receiver prospect out of Biloxi, Mississippi, where has has starred at D'Iverville high school. He is listed as a three-star prospect with Scout.com, and a four-star with Rivals, and this is a big commitment. There are prospects out there who are more highly-touted than Norwood, but Coach Saban and company were attracted to this young man several months ago, and they have made him an absolute priority ever since. Some have even argued that he might be the top wide receiver prospect on our board, and given the attention that we have given him, that may very well be true (sans Rueben Randle).
Either way, it's clear that we wanted Norwood in the worst way, and this is a big commitment. We're still probably going to sign a couple of more wide receivers other than Norwood -- I figure we'll take two out of the group of Rueben Randle, Kendall Kelly, Chad Bumphis, and Patrick Patterson -- but Norwood is clearly one that we really wanted.
And there is more good news coming out of Mississippi on the recruiting front. Fletcher Cox has been the number one prospect on our board at the Jack linebacker position for months now, and it is starting to look like we will be able to steal him away from Mississippi State. He is still committed to MSU at the moment, but Coach Saban visited him in person today, and according to comments from his high school coach, we actually lead for his services at the moment.
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OTS
How many do you think we will sign? With Norwood don’t we have 20? And I thought I remember hearing somewhere we would only sign 22 or 23. I know Saban likes to over sign and let things work out, but can you sign 25+ every year and it still work out?
It's hard to say right now...
It’s hard to say exactly how many we’ll sign, but it’s clear now that we’re going to sign more than most expected a few months back.
With Norwood now in the fold, that gives us 20 commitments, and honestly I think we’ll add four or five more. We’ve got about eight elite prospects left on the board, and we’ll get our fair share of those. At the end of the day, I figure we’ll sign around 25 players, give or take a player.
Making it all fit won’t be easy, but recruiting is just going so well now that we just have to sign a big class and then find a way to make it fit. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but things should work out pretty well. It’s no secret that we’re going to have our fair share of transfers, there will be a couple of medical scholarships, and honestly a player or two will be dumb enough to get kicked off the team. Mix that in with the fact that a couple of guys in this recruiting class will be academic casualties, and the fact that we could greyshirt a couple, we should be able to bring a couple of around 25 kids in with no major difficulties.
We won’t be able to sign 25+ every year, but we certainly need to this year, and I think we ultimately will.
by outsidethesidelines on Dec 16, 2008 6:26 PM CST up reply actions
A couple of more notes on Norwood...
While discussing his commitment to Alabama, Norwood said, “I just love everything about Alabama.”
Also, Norwood starred on both offense and defense for D’Iberville, and was highly productive on both sides of the ball. The state of Mississippi has a very high talent level, and he was playing in one of the highest classifications, 4A — the highest classification in Mississippi football is 5A. Even so, Norwood was a dominant player on both sides of the ball.
As a senior, offensively, he had 64 catches for 1,100 yards (over 17 yards per reception), with 14 touchdowns. On defense, playing DB, he racked up 8 interceptions. He led his time to the state championship game in 4A, where they lost narrowly to Noxubee County.
by outsidethesidelines on Dec 16, 2008 6:44 PM CST reply actions
ots
so, if we’re only going to sign five more, who do you think it will be? with dre kirpatrick, kendall kelly, tana patrick, brandon smith, reuben randle, bobby massie, morgan moses and all the other big names unsigned, how does this shake out? some think that dre and kendall are all but signed. brandon smith seems to be a uga lean. moses seems unlikely. randle, massie and patrick would be huge, but they seem hard to read. worse case scenario, do we only get two of the guys above? keep writing and i’ll keep reading.
We need Dre to lockdown Marquis' spot if Lawrence can't do it.
"penis fish"…google that, and the candiru is the first thing that pops up
by Stuck in the Plains on Dec 16, 2008 8:02 PM CST up reply actions
Thats the 2nd time
I have heard comments about concerns over Lawrence….Maybe you guys are hearing something im not. Im thinking we just got so spoiled this year with these freshman playing at such a high level. Some of these kids might take a year or two to develop and thats ok….but maybe im just reading this wrong.
When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.
I'm not concerned...
Remember, he gamed Julio at the HS game, but in camp, he did drop back a bit…I’m not concerned, but you can never have too many shutdown corners…esp with Mullens now in the West, LSU going wide open, Petrino at Ark, Nutt playing to his strengths, and the barn doing whatever the hell it is they do ;)
"penis fish"…google that, and the candiru is the first thing that pops up
by Stuck in the Plains on Dec 16, 2008 9:31 PM CST up reply actions
If I had to guess...
So, if we’re only going to sign five more, who do you think it will be?
From the outset it should be noted that it’s extremely tough to predict the final couple of spots, but if I were forced to say, I would say we would sign five more, and those five will be:
1. Dre Kirkpatrick (CB)
2. Kendall Kelly (WR)
3. Tana Patrick (ILB)
4. Fletcher Cox (Jack)
5. Either Rueben Randle, Bobby Massie, or Brandon Moore.
by outsidethesidelines on Dec 16, 2008 11:24 PM CST reply actions
I like what I see at tackle
as far as recruiting goes, but what are we doing to replace Caldwell? I have not heard of any standouts from the current roster and Rivals lists everyone as OL no matter what position they play. Anyone know who is in line for center?
If it were up to me, I'd blitz on offense too.
Eh, maybe...
Honestly, though, I wouldn’t bet on it. He’s going to be a senior, but he’s on the small side and honestly he has never been overly impressive. The only time that he ever seen playing time is when we had to move Caldwell to guard/tackle when we were in a pinch, or when Caldwell was suspended in Bookgate. In both instances, Cardwell really wasn’t impressive, and was honestly just adequate-at-best.
We’ve got several different possible options there moving forward in 2009, and I actually expect Cardwell to get beaten out. I think the smart money is probably on Barrett Jones, with Bryan Motley an outside shot.
by outsidethesidelines on Dec 17, 2008 3:57 PM CST up reply actions
I live in Biloxi...
played ball and graduated from d’Iberville. I got to see Kevin play 3 or 4 times this year, and he is as advertised. Great kick and punt returner, a lockdown corner, and has GREAT hands. The guy can catch anything. He is not physical like Julio, but he’s probably faster. There is one problem, he has an awful attitude. Last year, on the way to the semifinal playoff game, he punched a teamate in the mouth before boarding the bus and got left at the stadium….they lost. The few games I went to this year I noticed on 3rd and long situations with the commanding lead, d’Iberville would run the ball instead of throw it to him and he would throw a two year old fit on the sidelines slamming his helmet on the ground. I hope CNS can turn him around.
I can say this...
I haven’t seen Dre Kirkpatrick play, but I can’t imagine him being any better than Norwood. We just don’t get the publicity in South MS. Norwood is taller, just as fast, and the competition d’ville played was just incredibly strong this year, they played 3 or 4 undefeated teams. He nearly shut down Patrick Patterson in the state championship game, yet patterson could not shut Norwood down, they went head to head and it was great to watch.
Also
there are still some doubts about Bowman qualifying. And I just don’t see how we don’t land Kirkpatrick and Kelly.
Thirty-Six to Nothing
Attitude problems can be easy to fix
DJ Hall’s attitude was forged over 3 previous years of success. He truly belived he was bigger than any coach, reinforced by lackluster disipline, under Mike Shula.
Norwood coming into a new scheme, with a take no shit, alpha dog, like CNS, he will either get in step with everyone else or reap the rewards of his foolishness. Anyone who has been in the military should understand my thinking.
Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games. - Paul W. "Bear" Bryant
by TheRedTideConsumes on Dec 17, 2008 6:34 PM CST up reply actions
Also
a couple of guys are going to finish HS in Decemeber and can back count towards last years class.
Auburn fans are like slinkys... not really good for anything but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Exactly...
Actually James Carpenter, the JUCO OL, signed and faxed in his LOI today, and he’ll officially report in January.
Depending on what happens with Kerry Murphy, the same could go for Chance Warmack as well.
by outsidethesidelines on Dec 17, 2008 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
Is Norwood
Related to the former MSU star Jarius Norwood?
When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.
chizik nabs his first one...
Defensive lineman Nick Fairley, who originally signed with the Tigers out of high school, will sign today as a junior college transfer and enroll in January, according to AuburnSports.com. Fairley said other schools tried to get him to change his mind during Auburn’s coaching change, but he held firm.
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