LB Earnest Norman

Ohio Pete · November 7, 2008

Player: Earnest Norman

Hometown: Euless, TX (Trinity)

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 220 lbs.

40 time: 4.58

Visit Date: 11/8/2008

Committed: Kansas Nebraska!

Schools of interest: Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Washington State, Tulsa, and Duke

Rankings/Stars:

Rivals: :star :star :star #39 ILB

Big Red Report: :star :star :star #44 MLB

ESPN: 77 #28 ILB

Assessing the talent (ESPN):

Norman is a fast attacking outside linebacker prospect who covers a lot of ground on the football field and has a knack for making big plays. He lacks ideal size and speed measurables on paper but plays fast and physical on the field and is just a good, solid football player. Consistently around the ball making plays and shows great instincts on both run and pass support. Very versatile defender playing both inside and outside LB as well as safety. Diagnoses the play quickly and gets a fast jump on the football. Shows little wasted motion tracking down ball carriers. Flashes great sideline-to-sideline range and closing speed. When employed inside, he shows great burst hitting the run seam inside-out and blowing up plays in the opponent's backfield. Shows good lateral fluidity slipping the cutoff block and a nose for the football sliding through the small run creases. Equally impressive on the outside. Does not stay blocked for long and does a good job utilizing his long arms and deceptive upper-body strength keeping blockers off his body. Aggressive and difficult to seal on the outside and strings the run out well to the sideline. Great vertical attacker with his striking acceleration and closing burst on the perimeter. Disruptive blitzer off the edge with his first-step quickness and good bend. Fluid hips and turns in coverage; can pattern match quicker slots and provide a good jam. Transitions quickly breaking on underneath routes and shows explosive plant and drive skill. Delivers solid hits and can be a punishing tackler. However, at times he struggles breaking down smoothly in space and can lunge as a tackler. Will need to improve lower-body strength and power to drive and explode through bigger ball carriers at the next level. Can struggle disengaging the cutoff block and he will need to improve upper-body strength as well. We have concerns about his limited upside in terms of physical development with his non-rangy frame. With that said, Norman is a major sleeper on the recruiting trail. Will probably only produce adequate combine numbers but is a kid who can run and hit on the football field as well as some of the better LBs in this class. Very good football player and should be a stud on special teams.

Odds of becoming a Cornhusker: 95% N! 0%