Tre Norwood NFL Draft Profile
Position: Safety
Height: 6’ 0”
Weight: 194 lbs
School: University of Oklahoma
Pro Day Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds
Vertical jump: 33.5”
Broad Jump: 10’ 3”
3 Cone: 7.68 seconds
Bench Press: 12 reps of 225 lbs.
Tre Norwood 2021 NFL Draft Profile
Tre Norwood has been a consistent face for Oklahoma since he was a freshman. His solid play resulted in a much improved Oklahoma defense ranking top 30 in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense. He was recruited as a three star defensive back out of Northside High School in Fort Smith Arkansas. Norwood played in all 14 games as a freshman in 2017, starting the last five contests. The young defensive back made an impact quickly with 30 tackles and eight passes broken up.
[pickup_prop id=”3941″]
In the 2018 season, he started all 14 games. His impact was much larger as a full-time starter, leading to 58 tackles and five pass break-ups. Norwood snagged his first career interception in 2018 against Texas to seal the victory. The Sophomore defensive back was an important figure for an Oklahoma defense starting to show signs of improvement. The Sooners struggled defensively for several years prior to 2018. Tre Norwood stepped up and began to show consistency at one of Oklahoma’s worst positions since the early 2000’s, resulting in another Big 12 Championship.
Tre Norwood suffered a non-contact knee injury prior to the 2019 kickoff causing him to miss the entire season. Norwood started in five games during the 2020 season. Norwood shared the lead in the Big 12 tied with five interceptions, ranking third across the nation. Norwood’s best moment was his 45 yard touchdown interception return in the Cotton Bowl against Florida helping to defeat the Gators. Florida was without several of their relevant pass catchers, including Kyle Pitts resulting in offensive struggles against the stingy Sooner defense. Kyle Trask, the Florida quarterback, struggled mightily against Alex Grinch’s improved Sooners defense, highlighted by Tre Norwood.
Lowest passer rating allowed to the slot among safeties in 2020:
♨️ Tre Norwood, Oklahoma – 54.2 pic.twitter.com/ahXBf4hjoR
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 9, 2021
Strengths
- Experienced, seasoned player;
- Dynamic kick and punt returner;
- Ideal NFL size and speed;
- Early recognition as a run defender;
- Dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands.
Weaknesses
- Not a sure tackler;
- Downhill runner, has trouble recovering;
- Difficulty reading routes;
- Late recognition in pass coverage;
- Over pursues and loses angle of attack;
- Knee injury in 2019.
Projection: Day 3 Pick
Bottom Line on Tre Norwood
Norwood could prove valuable to numerous teams, especially as a backup defensive back or on special teams. He will likely not contribute to a starting secondary from Day 1. Norwood will look to carve out a role as a punt and kick returner and in coverage on special teams. The former Sooner will look for opportunities for playing time to prove his worth on the defensive side of the ball.
Norwood was a standout on a struggling OU defense. Solid play by Norwood, and other defensive stable horses, resulted in a much improved defensive side of the ball for Alex Grinch and the Sooners. Norwood will look to find significant playing time as opportunities open up on some of the thinner secondaries across the NFL. The former Sooner star would best fit with teams currently struggling in the secondary, for instance: Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
