Commit #11: Levi Norwood
by Run Up The Score on Jul 1, 2009 10:36 PM EDT
in Recruiting
55 comments
Gimme a team full of Norwoods and a wooo!
A little late-night news, as wide receiver Levi Norwood has officially committed to Penn State:
After spending last weekend at Penn State's senior-only camp and receiving an offer, Norwood called Lion receivers' coach Mike McQueary Wednesday to inform him that he was committing....
Norwood, the younger brother of former PSU standout receiver Jordan Norwood and the son of former Lion assistant Brian Norwood, said there was really never any question about where he would play his college ball....
"Pretty much growing up there and having my brother go there and always being around Penn State, I always wanted to go there," Levi said. "It was easy for me."...
Norwood did not play football at Midway High last fall after transferring from State College High. But he has been working out with the football team at Midway this off-season and reportedly turned in a strong performance at PSU's senior camp. Norwood said no decision has been made on whether he will grayshirt.
Levi is already 6'2", so he's a bigger target than his brother Jordan, and apparently caught everything thrown in his area during the recent camp. And hell, he's a Norwood. Great bloodlines, coach's son, knows what it takes to succeed in a major collegiate program. People will complain and write things like, "zOMG HE'S ONLY A NEGATIVE THREE STAR PLAYER!11ONE!" These people are morons, because (1) there's the strong possibility that Levi will grayshirt, and won't even count against the limited available scholarship count for the current recruiting class, and (2) after what Jordan accomplished here, Levi clearly deserves a lot of slack.
Jordan Norwood - Cleveland Browns - Draft Video Profile (via Draftguysdotcom)
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Kickass
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jul 1, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I see absolutely nothing wrong
with taking a taller version of Jordan. Welcome (back) to PSU, Levi.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 1, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also
If anyone is going to complain that he’s not highly touted, or doesn’t have any/many stars, I remind you to read what was said above: he attended our camp, and didn’t have an offer before the camp, but was given one afterward. I refuse to believe we offered him because of his last name. If that was the case we would have given him an offer before we saw him at the camp.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 1, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, okay,
I wrote over at NWO that I’m not thrilled with the decision to offer him a scholly. I think with the 2009 class so loaded with wideouts, and with 2 other prospects on the horizon for this year, offering one to a kid who nobody else seems to like—literally, he has no other offers—isn’t the brightest move. I’ll reluctantly give the coaching staff the benefit of the doubt, but I don’t see this as a slam dunk.
NittanyWhiteOut.com. Arguably the second best Penn State blog I know of.
by PSUdevon on Jul 1, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, but I guess that what you just wrote means you’re a moron.
:(
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jul 1, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jordan and Deon
weren’t regarded as “slam dunks” either. Who’s laughing now?
by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 1, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well by that theory
Lets go after nothing but 2-stars and preferred walkons.
NittanyWhiteOut.com. Arguably the second best Penn State blog I know of.
by PSUdevon on Jul 1, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
or by your theory...
let’s ignore talent because we already have too many WRs….
USC, Texas, and Florida have 5 Star Parade All-American’s up and down the depth chart, at the same position (3 Parade All-America QB), 5 (Parade RBs)….
Build depth…because you never know if your star recruit (see: Scott, Austin) will pan out and it is better to have a backup plant (see: Hunt, Tony; Kinlaw, Rodney).
I love the move. The coaches saw something. I’m sure he is just as coachable as his brother…you know what you are getting with a Norwood.
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Jul 2, 2009 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No...
By that theory, the coaching staff makes their own decisions rather than reading Scout and Rivals.
by Bleed Blue 'n White on Jul 2, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
He could greyshirt
and honestly, not every player is a superstar, highly touted stud. He didn’t play football last year because of a move and thus his exposure has been limited. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, it’s tough to really gauge how many ships there are, or could be.
Still he could greyshirt and it wouldn’t matter.
"I'm colonel cool! And I'm the captain on this rocket to the stars!"
by psuphiman80 on Jul 2, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if he doesn't grayshirt, I'd rather have a Norwood
than bragging rights to the highest rated class in the nation. I doubt they would have used up a scholarship spot just because of his name, and not because they saw talent. I trust our coaches a lot more than scout/rivals “experts” who didn’t even rate the guy because he didn’t play. Plus this guy really really wanted to be here, all his life. You know he’ll come in with the right attitude. I like that in a player. Anyway, since he will probably grayshirt, most of that is moot, but even if he doesn’t, I’m good with this move.
by PSUisMyHeart on Jul 2, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
By your theory
You have zero reading comprehension skills:
People will complain and write things like, “zOMG HE’S ONLY A NEGATIVE THREE STAR PLAYER
” These people are morons, because (1) there’s the strong possibility that Levi will grayshirt, and won’t even count against the limited available scholarship count for the current recruiting class
Why would you talk about 2009? We have zero depth in the class of 2010.
FAIL.
by Aaron PSU on Jul 2, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
will he wear 24?
I looked at Ohrnberger in the fourth quarter and he looked back at me. And we said, 'We're not losing this game"
by psudrozz on Jul 1, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Man, that would be nice
I loved seeing 24 on the field with the ball spiraling towards him and knowing it would be a catch (unless the defender makes a good play, or the ball is just way way off target)
by The JuggerNitt on Jul 2, 2009 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I haven't told my 8-year old son yet, but....
This is going to make his day. Jordan Norwood was his favorite player after Poz graduated. If he takes #24, too, then that will make him even happier.
by Spats on Jul 2, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Almost certainly a grayshirt....
…. but maybe not.
Just because Coxson has five stars doesn’t mean he’ll turn out the way, and just because a kid might be a walk-on / one-star kid doesn’t mean that’s all he’s worth either.
The family ties are absolutely involved with this offer, but I trust that this kid can actually play. I find little wrong with helping out a family that has given so much to the program over the last several years and I trust that the coaches know what they have to work with.
Welcome to the family, Norwood II.
by smashtheguitar on Jul 1, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What a great kid to get.
At worst he will be another stand up addition to the team, at best the sky is the limit. He didn’t play the most important year (with regard to recruiting) so anyone who thinks he is a bad kid to give a scholarship to has to have a little faith that the coaches knew what they were doing at senior camp. Welcome aboard.
Champion of the sun, master of karate and friendship for everyone.
by psu on Jul 1, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lets welcome the Norwood family to the pantheon of PSU
Norwood, Suhey, Wisnewski, Mauti, Schuler, Zordich, Johnsonetc…..Sometimes it amazes me to see how many father/son/brother combinations have been involved with the program. Just adds to the whole "family"aspect, we aint faking
Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.
"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."
by Roland86 on Jul 2, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This kid has been around football
since he was in the womb. He probably knows more football technology, etc. than all of us on this board. I have never seen a kid catch a football like Jordan did at some of those “silly season” competitions on the tube. All hands, no body catches.
If Levi has been taught by dad and Jordan those skills, if he has the football saavy (being around college programs since birth helps), he has better size than Jordan, if he can run as fast or faster, etc. I think he is a better “reach” than Jordan was. So, I think it is a great decision, especially if he doesn’t count toward a scholie
by PaJoe on Jul 2, 2009 7:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Like the Norwood homepage
with Scout adding Baylor to the list for no apparent reason.
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State" The offseason is long. So is this magazine.
by Kevin HD on Jul 2, 2009 7:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I had actually looked at little Norwood's page before he committed
They had PSU and Baylor and that was it, and he had no offers from either, until now.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 2, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I like it
If he’s got hands like Jordan’s then I’m sure he will be great for us.
by RitterPSU on Jul 2, 2009 8:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Does this dispense that rumor from a year ago
that Norwood (sr) hated Paterno and was going to take a bunch of players to Baylor? God bless the Pennlive message board,
by cpm126 on Jul 2, 2009 8:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They are their own
brand of crazy over there.
Thank Zug for BSD so I no longer have to weed thru 30 lines of nonsense on Pennlive for one real tidbit.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
by rahpsu92 on Jul 2, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What are you talking about
that board is full of “insiders”
by cpm126 on Jul 2, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t understand why some are crying about this on various forums/boards. Everyone knows if things get tight and there is a coveted prospect (whether 4/5* or not) that the staff wants in the ‘10 class, Levi Norwood is a WILLING grayshirt. It has ZERO impact on the ’10 schollie situation if someone is out there and the coaches need a ship, they’ll have it.
Could the staff be rolling the dice or giving Levi the benefit of the doubt by starting him off with a schollie, or ensuring a schollie after a grayshirt, due to Jordan’s success at PSU? Yes. That may very well be likely…but the kid has also been at PSU camps his whole life, his brother was a 4 year starter at the same position (at PSU), and his dad is a football player/coach. I doubt there is anything sinister going on behind the scenes, where the coaches must ruin PSU football fans lives by putting a dent in the ever so popular class/prospect recruiting rankings.
Anyone that thinks this means anything to CA WR Kenny Stills is delusional. Anyone that thinks this means anything to the PSU coaches, IF CA WR Kenny Stills were to want to come on board, is delusional. Anyone that thinks this scares off former teammate Alex Kenney, thinks this is a negative for PA ATH Alex Kenney, or changes anything for the PSU coaches with regard to PA ATH Alex Kenney, is delusional.
Just welcome Levi to the PSU family, whether he is on schollie in ‘10 or not, and be done with it. If he only ends up contributing at WR as a 4th type guy and not starting or doesn’t have Jordan’s success, you will have NOT been right about this being a wasted schollie.
This is definitely not a wasted schollie. If Brian thought Levi couldn’t play at this level or should pursue BBall, if Jordan thought Levi couldn’t play at this level or should pursue BBall – they’d tell him and he’d probably be pursuing BBall. If Levi has even some of the on/off the field intangibles that Jordan had, can catch everything in sight (seems he can) and is tough as hell but also towering over Jordan at 6’2 than you take him.
In my mind Levi is a probable grayshirt, so I welcome him as our first ’11 WR prospect and say congrats. Now see if we can get Kenney or Stills to join 5* PSU commit Adrian Coxson, and wrap it up with WR prospects. In ’11 we can take 1 or 2 to join all these guys if they are the best of the best, but if not we can focus on other positions and see what Brown, Kersey, Kuntz, Drake, Smith, Coxson (and so on) can do.
by RBGmug on Jul 2, 2009 8:45 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
You know exactly why they're crying, though.
And you’re right, it doesn’t matter. Hell, if the kid can be summed up as “a taller Jordan Norwood”, give me five of ‘em. As we know, he’s not ranked because he didn’t play football last year and there’s no film on him. He’ll play this year on a pretty damned good team that had a nice run in the 4A playoffs in Texas(they also have that 5* safety that recently dropped Texas in favor of Baylor). You know he’ll be a good student and citizen.
In other words, it’s zero risk. Just file the name away and see where he’s at two years from now.
--
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State", like, now. One team, 128 pages.
by Run Up The Score on Jul 2, 2009 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting article from Waco
…about that 5* safety and his relationship with the Norwoods:
Dixon might have been influenced by his friendship with Levi Norwood, the son of Baylor defensive coordinator Brian Norwood. Dixon and Levi Norwood played together on Midway’s regional semifinalist basketball team this season.
However, Dixon said Brian Norwood didn’t explicitly recruit him outside of campus visits.
"He never really talks about me going to Baylor when I go over and hang out," Dixon said. "His dad always wanted me to refer to him as Mr. Norwood outside of his working hours. He wanted to talk about everyday life.
Dixon said he and Levi Norwood have become close since Norwood started at Midway last fall. Levi Norwood, a wide receiver and defensive back, didn’t play football for the Panthers in 2008, but went through spring practice with Midway this spring.
"We’re very good friends," Dixon said. "But Coach Norwood never put that on the line where I had to choose between that. He came to me as a parent when he was outside of Baylor’s offices. When he was inside, it was all business."
--
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State", like, now. One team, 128 pages.
by Run Up The Score on Jul 2, 2009 9:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
no brainer
I mean c’mon, this is Penn State. We are a family school. This kid’s brother and dad did great things for our program and he’s obviously got the talent to live up to that standard. I am delighted to have him.
Welcome young Norwood, welcome.
"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.
by millzners on Jul 2, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kenney...
since his father works at the University….would he technically be able to go for free without a scholarship? Thus his scholie would go to Norwood….
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Jul 2, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm fairly certain...
…that the answer is “no” to that. But I may be confusing the “basketball player walking onto the football team” rule there.
Besides, I don’t think it would ever come to that. Kenney would get a scholarship in practically any scenario.
--
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State", like, now. One team, 128 pages.
by Run Up The Score on Jul 2, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
true...
I was just trying to figure out a way to stop the mass hysteria regarding giving Levi (everyone knows JoePA will always give legacy players scholarships (See: Suhey, Joe; not a highly rated RB out of Chicago) a scholarship
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Jul 2, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was wondering this myself
and asked about it in another post. I don’t recall getting an answer, but it would be nice if we could get another “free” scholarship like that. But I figure the answer is probably “no”, otherwise I think you’d see a lot more shady schools offering the parents of top recruits “jobs” in order to work around that schollie limit.
by The JuggerNitt on Jul 2, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The rule, as I understand it,
is that, regardless of “how” they are on scholarship, the number of players on the football team cannot exceed the limit of 85. So if they earned it academically or through a parent, it doesn’t really matter.
The only exception to this that I know about is this shady thing at Alabama called the Bryant Scholarship, and I have no idea how the school is getting away with it.
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State" The offseason is long. So is this magazine.
by Kevin HD on Jul 2, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you mean the number of football players on scholarship cannot exceed 85, right?
cuz then what about walkons and such.
But yeah, the Bryant Scholarship was a crock, but at least it is going away now, and they closed that “loophole”
by The JuggerNitt on Jul 3, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think somebody mentioned on a previous thread
that family of faculty do not get a 100% free ride, and still have to pay something. The majority is definitely covered, but I believe it was said that family still has to pay some part of tuition.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 2, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
PERSPECTIVE
As far as I’m concerned Levi Norwood is a ‘10 commit. If we need the scholarship and he wants to greyshirt, well then there’s yet another thing a Norwood has done for us. But let’s not go panicking, OR counting him as a greyshirt and welcome him.
How about some perspective if you feel upset. Why are you upset? Because we are running out of scholarships and you want someone else? Why are running out of scholarships? I can answer that for you.
BECAUSE WE’RE CLEANING EFFING HOUSE AND GETTING EVERYONE WE WANT!!!!
Not sure if you got the memo, but this is a terrific problem to have. Gone are the days of having to hand write Derrick Williams a not every single day begging him to come turn the program around. Now the coaches go out and get us whoever they want. And guess what? They can have anyone and they chose Levi Norwood.
Welcome Levi, to the Penn State recruiting class of 2010.
by PSUinBOSSton on Jul 2, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions 5 recs
Gone are the days of having to hand write Derrick Williams a not every single day begging him to come turn the program around.
And here are the days of handwriting D-Will a note every single day, thanking him for doing so.
Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD
by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jul 2, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
very well put
/tips cap hiding bald spot
welcome norwood version 2.2
I looked at Ohrnberger in the fourth quarter and he looked back at me. And we said, 'We're not losing this game"
by psudrozz on Jul 2, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here...here!
He (and Justin King) may very well be the most important recruits the program has had in the last 20 years. They started the turnaround…..and along with NORWOOD and Butler gave M-Rob some talent to throw to in 2005!
I thought only safeties played 15 yards off the ball?
by pic15 on Jul 2, 2009 11:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Feeling reminiscent
I am remembering seeing Norwood on the field for the first time, not knowing who he was, and thinking “holy god, that guy must way 135lbs”
by cpm126 on Jul 2, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Four years later he takes
a spear from a 230 lb Safety in the Rose Bowl, staggers to the sideline only to re-enter the game. I couldn’t believe Norwood got up after that hit, let alone came back to play.
One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's
by rahpsu92 on Jul 2, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He is not normal
I weigh 230 and I would have been curled up on the field sobbing in the fetal position.
by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 2, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It still amazes me to realize
We sent not one, but TWO of these walk on WRs to the NFL. One in the third round no less!
by dawsonPSU10 on Jul 2, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take 100 Norwoods
if it meant I never, ever had to see another jerk off like Chris “Captain Stabby” Bell again.
by Tailgate Shogun on Jul 3, 2009 9:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Dude, it’s “Stabby McShankerson”.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Jul 5, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or "Stabby McStaberson"
PSU Softball
by QBsneak12 on Jul 6, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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