Tennessee has reportedly added a another player to their secondary on signing day, though it may not be a name that many were familiar with.
In-state safety Joseph Norwood has reportedly signed with the Vols. He had been holding out for an offer, and this morning he finally got the call from the Tennessee coaching staff.
Brainerd’s Joseph Norwood @_jnorwood3 just got the call from UT coach Jeremy Pruitt with the offer he was hoping and waiting for. Norwood committed to UT and will sign with the Vols today at the school. #bestofpreps
— Stephen Hargis (@StephenHargis) February 7, 2018
Norwood is a composite three-star and the 75th ranked athlete in the nation per 247Sports. Their regular rankings, however, are much more favorable for the in-state athlete. The regular 247Sports rankings have him ranked as a four-star and the 28th ranked athlete in the country. Norwood is from Chattanooga and played his senior season at Brainerd High School. Tennessee is his only Power Five offer.
Tennessee hasn’t officially acknowledged his signing as of yet, but there are multiple reports that he will be part of the Vols’ 2018 class.
Norwood visited Tennessee this past weekend, and he loved his trip. He didn’t have an offer from the Vols at the time, however.
Good oleeee Rocky top…. ?#GBO ?@UTVolRecruiting @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/L3l1yKb2SE
— ⚡Joseph Norwood⚡ (@_jnorwood3) February 4, 2018
He is listed as both a safety and a wide receiver, but will likely play in the secondary for Tennessee. Norwood is undersized at just 170 pounds, but he plays very physical nonetheless. He is 6-foot-1, so he has the frame to put the extra weight on. He is not afraid to initiate contact and is a sure tackler. He takes good angles and closes down space well.
As for his coverage ability, he is an instinctual player. He has good ball skills and was rarely targeted, which is a sign of good coverage.
He may not be a big name that some fans were hoping for, but fans should be happy about Joseph Norwood. He is a good player that just needs time to be developed.
And check out this tweet about his emotion when he was offered earlier. There is no doubt he will give his all for this school.
@_jnorwood3 reaction to the offer from UT – dropped the phone & began crying. Thanked UT coaches and said “I can’t explain what this means to me.” Norwood had said earlier “Nobody has ever touched that sign above the door & given their all more than I will for UT.” #bestofpreps
— Stephen Hargis (@StephenHargis) February 7, 2018
