NFL
By: William Carroll
In 2015 Jordan Norris appeared in all 11 contests for the Rangers during his third year with the program on the defensive side of the ball. The former receiver finished the season with 31 total tackles, 26 of which were solo tackles…Led the team in passes broken up with eight and passes deflected with 15. Norris recorded on a fumble recovery and one blocked kick. Leading Northwestern and the Great American Conference in interceptions with seven total and had one interception returned for a touchdown, Jordan ranked tied for fourth in the nation in interceptions with those seven total. He received an ALL-GAC Honorable Mention status as well by the season’s end.
In his final season, 2016, opposing teams had started avoiding Norris, still, in 11 games he posted 20 solo tackles, with 10 assists, 3 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 6 passes broken up, 10 passes defended and 1 forced fumble. His hands show that he was a wide receiver in his past and his play shows that he’s a slot corner in the future, get to know Jordan Norris.
WC: I have had the pleasure of watching your career from your time at Northwestern Oklahoma State. What would you say are the 5 biggest and best lessons you’ve learned on your journey?
JN:
1. Never take anything for granted.
2. Nothing comes easy.
3. Hard work gets you the results you want.
4. Be patient and follow the path God is leading you.
5. Embrace everything and enjoy your time.
WC: The next question, you played for Kendall Miller at Lakeview Centennial High School. What was that program like and what kind of coach was he?
JN: The program was great. [We had], great supporters in a great community. The coaches wanted to win and that’s what we strove for. We had great athletes and great teammates. Coach Miller was a great guy and a great coach. I’d love to coach with him any day.
WC: Who were your major rivals in High School and College?
JN: In high school, it seemed everyone in our district was our rival because everyone either played with each other in Pee-Wee or everyone knew each other. In college, it was Southwestern Oklahoma State. It’s just something about that game that would get your blood pumping. You could have an undefeated season but playing that game meant the world.
WC: Your home area is loaded with talent growing up in Dallas Texas and playing at Northwestern Oklahoma state, to name a few who were some of the best players you played with, or against while you were in college, high school or growing up? Your home area is loaded with talent growing up in Dallas Texas and playing at Northwestern Oklahoma state, to name a few who were some of the best players you played with, or against while you were in college, high school or growing up?
JN: In college, I’ve played against great athletes with great talent. I’ve played against great guys daily in practice on the offense that really shaped me up and prepared me for other great athletes in our conference. In high school, I played against guys like Charles Walker who went OU and Kent Myers of Utah State
WC: What was your recruitment process like, who was interested and how did you choose your school?
JN: The recruitment process was really stressful. No team contacted me. I wasn’t recruited by anyone but was able to scramble up some plays to make a highlight film. After that, I emailed about 100 schools and Northwestern Oklahoma State was the only one who requested I come visit. They would then offer on [the] spot and the rest was history.
WC: What was the best game and the biggest play you made as a high school player?
JN: We were playing Sachse High School. We were down 21 going into the half. We ended up coming back in the 4th to get a lead. It was 4th down and all they needed was a 1st to get in field goal range. The QB scrambled to the outside and me and my safety made a gang tackle to stop him 1 yard short to get us the ball back.
WC: What was you big “Welcome to College Football” Moment?
JN: My big welcome to college football moment was playing my freshman year at 150 lbs. at corner, I took on a pulling offensive tackle head on and it pretty much ended how you would think.
WC: What is your current height and weight and what are your testing numbers?
5’10 175lbs., 4.5 40yard dash, 4.03 pro shuttle 13 bench repetitions of 225.
WC: How have the systems and staffs at your school impacted your development?
JN: They’re a great group of coaches, to be honest. I’ve never seen a more dedicated staff who work as hard as they do so that we can succeed. The amount of hours they put into this game is just unreal and it’s something that I am truly thankful for. Being coached by them is one of the reasons I’ve had success in my career.
WC: Which coaches have had the greatest impact on you and why?
JN: I’m not sure I can single out any 1 coach because they have all had some type of impact on me and my career.
WC: How hard was to adjust to the verbiage, system, and play-book and when did you feel 100% comfortable?
JN: I caught on to our playbook my sophomore year. It really didn’t hit me until the end of the season. Our Defensive coordinator (Dan Lemke) was there anytime I needed to go over it which really helped me be able to play faster without having to think much.
WC: Who have been your favorite teammates, and why?
JN: I loved all my teammates. They gave everything they had every day and it was a joy anytime I was around them. But if I had to choose it would be my roommates from 810! Those guys have been with me since day 1 and I couldn’t ask for a better group of friends.
WC: Who have been your favorite opponents and why?
JN: My favorite opponents were the receivers at Arkansas-Monticello. They’ve got some great talent over there and if you watch film from our game, you can see us just talking trash back and forth. The trash talking is kind of a momentum booster for me and that’s why they were fun to play against.
WC: If you could put together a list of your favorite players to watch or emulate, who is on that list and why?
JN: Josh Norman and Richard Sherman no doubt. These guys make the game fun to watch. They’re great athletes who I’ve tried to take pointers from their game and translate them into mine.
WC: What NFL teams are your favorites and why?
JN: Dallas Cowboys all the way. I was born in Dallas so I have to rep the home squad plus they’ve got the best offense in the league.
WC: Which NFL players do you think your game most closely resembles and why?I feel I take after Josh Norman. As a
JN: I feel I take after Josh Norman. As a cornerback, you’re always seen as the enemy in the game and he plays with that chip on his shoulder. We both have that attitude we play with that shows our passion for the game.
WC: When football is over what would you like to do with your education?
JN: I’m a criminal justice major so I want to do something with law enforcement and eventually work my way to S.W.A.T
WC: Finally if you could go back in time to talk to 17-year-old you, what would you tell him?
JN: Red-shirt; I would tell myself to redshirt my freshman year. I ended up tearing my ACL my freshman year and was able to get that year back. I feel if I had at least one more year I could make a huge impact for my university.
WC: And what would you do differently if you could do it all over again? I’d study more film. As I got older I realized that the game is more mental and if I could have started out my career with watching more film, it could’ve been even better outcomes.
JN: I’d study more film. As I got older I realized that the game is more mental and if I could have started out my career with watching more film, it could’ve been even better outcomes.
WC: What [if any] is/are your nickname[s] and how did you get it/them?
JN: My nickname is J-No (Jay- No). I got this nickname in middle school from one of my best friend’s brothers. It really just stuck with me all the way to college.
