These notes were provided to us by Michael Kinney, who will be contributing to The Football Brainiacs this spring.
When Tre Norwood stepped on the field last year for his first collegiate game, many didn’t really know what to expect. While he had the talent and skills to play cornerback, some didn’t know if the Arkansas native was going to be big enough to handle the rigors of the Big 12.
While Norwood proved many doubters wrong during his freshman campaign and handled himself well, he still admits he took a beating at times.
Because of that, Norwood said his focus during the offseason has been to add some pouds on to his 6-foot-0 frame.
“Weight room is big for sure. That’s my biggest thing this spring and this entire summer coming up,” Norwood said Wednesday after practice. “Put more pounds on, get more physical, get bigger.”
Having to face the likes of Baylor’s RJ Sneed (6-2), West Virginia’s Dominique Maiden (6-5), Iowa State’s Allen Lazard (6-5) and TCU’s Taj Williams (6-4), would send any cornerback straight to the bench press and squat rack. Especially one who was still playing at his high school weight.
“Last year I was light at 175,” Norwood said. “When playing those big receivers, the physical aspect of the game comes into play. So, I am trying to get stronger in the weight room.”
According to the Sooners spring roster, Norwood has already improved his weight, some. He is listed at 183 pounds.
When it’s all said and done, Norwood wants to be seen as a physical cornerback, like the ones he has patterned his game after.
“I am a big Patrick Peterson fan. A Brent Grimes fan,” Norwood said. “Man to man corners because that is what the game is. You have to be able to cover at the defensive back spot. Those two guys are the ones I try to model my game after.”
Defense making strides
There are several new faces on the Oklahoma defense this spring. Several of them are early enrollees like defensive ends Ronnie Perkins and Jalen Redmond.
Defensive ends coach Calvin Thibodeaux has especially liked what he has seen from the 6-foot-5, 255 pound Perkins so far in camp.
“Ronnie Perkins is really a physical guy,” Thibodeaux said. “A big powerful guy. Still thinking a lot. But you can tell that the skill set is there. They still need to be developed, But you’re really excited about those guys.”
Thibodeaux also explained how much farther ahead the freshman in spring camp will be once fall camp rolls around.
“It’s huge because when we start fall camp, they will have had practices under their belts,” Thibodeaux said. “We’re going to be able to call out drills, we’re going to be able to call out defenses and they will know it. And that’s going to allow them to play that much faster. And that’s going to give them a chance to play that much faster next fall.”
It’s not just Perkins who has caught the defensive coaches’ eyes. It’s the entire defense that has made strides, according to defensive coordinator Mike Stoops.
“We have a ways to go. I like all the pieces. The group that I notice the most is the defensive line,” Stoops said. “They are the most improved players by far. You can tell the experience from just a year ago. Neville is so much further ahead than he was a year ago. We just need him to be the player that he can be. We need better play across the board. Calls are calls. It’s how you play them and how you coach them. We certainly need to get better in all phases. And I like our young pieces. Jalen Redmond, Ronnie Perkins, these are very talented and explosive players.”
However, even though it is a talented group, they are still freshmen that must learn the ways of playing big-time college football. And that will take more time than just a few days in the spring.
“They don’t know what they don’t know until they get on the field at this level,” Stoops said. “They really don’t. Any of them. They will tell you that. This is like a foreign test to them. They keep pushing themselves every day. They just have to figure it out. They are going to be so much better when they come back in the fall.”
Super K will have some insider team notes up on the donor board later today.
