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Alabama Football: 30 Tide Greats who exceeded their 3-Star high school rankings

By Ronald Evans

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide fans in the crowd against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide fans in the crowd against the Clemson Tigers in the 2016 CFP National Championship at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kevin Norwood, Alabama football
Kevin Norwood, Alabama football (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Alabama football players who exceeded 3 star ranking: 26. Kevin Norwood

  • Biloxi, MS
  • Wide Receiver (2009-2013)
  • 2009 Recruit Ranking: No. 323 ranked player in the nation

Most Alabama football fans know Kevin Norwood as “Mr. Clutch”, a name earned from big performances in big games. It is a good moniker, but not the best for Kevin. A more accurate name would be “Mr. Resilent.”

Kevin and his family struggled in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as reported by USA Today.

"“I was in ninth grade. We had no lights, no water, no food. Every day, (we) would get on our bikes and go find food to help our family out, go find bottles of water because you couldn’t drink the water – it was contaminated. So many of those nights … getting eaten up by mosquitoes … We had the windows down, but it was still hot. We had no electricity, so we couldn’t turn on the fan … I know God wanted me to experience (it), just to make sure I stay humble and make sure I appreciate everything I have today.”"

It was not easy for Kevin when he got to Alabama either, as he lost confidence during a redshirt season. Nick Saban wanted Kevin to move to defense. Kevin declined the option. He battled through injuries.

As a redshirt freshman in 2010, Norwood played in 13 games but only caught three passes. One of those passes was for a touchdown and a jubilant Kevin did a flip in the end zone after the catch. The antics did not please Nick Saban.

In 2011, with some increased playing time, Kevin caught 11 passes. After three years in Tuscaloosa, he had caught 14 passes and scored one touchdown that elicited an ass-chewing. Lesser young men would have transferred to another school. Not “Mr. Resilent.”

As a junior and a senior, Norwood caught 67 passes for 1029 yards and 11 touchdowns and zero backflips in the end zone. Some of those receptions were in the biggest of games, particularly the 2012 national championship game.

At the end of Kevin’s five years in Tuscaloosa, he had two degrees, two national championship rings and was voted by his teammates as a permanent captain. Resiliency paid off for Kevin Norwood.

The NFL has also been a difficult challenge for Kevin. In three NFL seasons, he was with three teams, Seattle, Carolina and the Giants. He appeared in only 10 regular-season games. He still deserves the title “Mr. Resilient.”

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