Jordan Norwood

[edit] Biography

Some may have been surprised when Jordan Norwood announced his decision to play football at Penn State. Prior to the 2005 season, Norwood was a hometown hero best known for starring as the point guard on State College Area High School’s basketball team and leading the Little Lions to their first-ever state championship in 2003. Following a game and season-high six receptions for 110 yards against Florida State in the 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl that capped a meteoric emergence among a group of talented freshmen receivers, no one is surprised anymore. Polite and unassuming off the field, Norwood, whose first love was football, is a fierce and fearless competitor on it, displaying exceptional hands, lightning quick moves and a penchant for making clutch first downs. Proving too valuable to redshirt after sitting out the season-opener with South Florida, the talented and intelligent Norwood played in 10 games in 2005 and ranked second on the team with 32 receptions for 422 yards. The total ranks second only to classmate Deon Butler’s 691 yards among the best seasons by a freshman in school history. The son of Penn State safeties coach Brian Norwood, 2005-06 was a very good year to be a member of the Norwood family. In addition to the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten and Orange Bowl titles, Jordan also got a courtside view as his older brother, Gabe, helped lead George Mason to an improbable berth in the NCAA Final Four as a junior guard. A team-high eight receptions for 154 yards in the 2006 Blue-White game demonstrated the elusive receiver is a favorite target of Anthony Morelli and one of the most dangerous, if understated, weapons in the Nittany Lion attack.

2005 Freshman Season Having delayed his enrollment until January of 2005, Norwood used the winter and spring workouts to quickly assimilate himself with the Nittany Lion offense. The work showed as he played in 10 games, ranked second on the squad with 32 receptions for 422 yards (13.1 avg.) and emerged as a dangerous target among a talented group of freshmen receivers. His 422 yards were second-highest by a freshman in school season history, trailing only classmate Deon Butler’s 691. He had six receptions for 20 yards or more and added two carries for 24 yards, including a big 17-yard reverse deep in Purdue territory. Norwood finished the season with a huge effort, grabbing a game and season-high six passes for 110 yards against Florida State in the FedEx Orange Bowl. He had three receptions of 20 yards or longer against the Seminoles, including a season-best 38-yard effort that took the ball to the Florida State 11-yard line late in the game. Held out of the opener with South Florida as a redshirt was contemplated, the sure-handed athlete proved too valuable to keep off the field. In the first road and Big Ten game of his career he made several big catches in a comeback win at Northwestern, leading the Lions with five receptions for 83 yards. He also made five grabs for 36 yards in the huge win over Ohio State, accumulated 63 yards on four receptions in his first start at Michigan and gained 59 yards on four catches against Purdue. After missing the Illinois game due to a slight foot injury, Norwood started the last three games of the season. He saw action on 394 snaps, led by 70 against Florida State.

High School Norwood was a standout on the gridiron and hardwood at State College Area HS. He was a catalyst for the Little Lions’ march to the Class AAAA state semifinals. As a senior, he made 21 catches for 273 yards and four touchdowns for Coach Dave Lintal’s squad. Norwood also was a noted point guard on the basketball squad, helping State High to the 2003 Class AAAA state title. He was twice selected the Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Year.

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