Coastal Carolina cornerback Josh Norman has burst onto the scene during draft season with an impressive outing at the East/West Shrine Game and 2012 NFL Scouting Combine. Norman has a long frame — 6-foot, 197 pounds, 32 3/4 inch arms — that will create trouble for receivers that he faces.
After his combine performance, the FCS First-Team All-American took some time out of his busy schedule and answered some questions for NFL Spin Zone. Here is what Josh had to say:
Chris Boyle: Describe your combine experience. Did you have any nerves going into it?
Josh Norman: Oh man. The nerves; the jitters; so many people there. People think you show up to a combine. A lot of preparation goes into it. Whatever happens happens, and you respect that.
Boyle: What did you enjoy most about the combine?
Norman: It was fun. Most guys thought it was tiring, which don’t get me wrong, I probably got about 10-11 hours of sleep in the whole three days I was there. The psychological test is what really got to everybody — the Wonderlic. It was crazy questions – basic fill-in-the-blank questions ketchup is to mustard as salt is to what?
Boyle: What’s it like competing against top players from “big schools”? Do you feel any kind of chip on your shoulder?
Norman: Now, I don’t. At first I did, but I don’t have a chip on my shoulder. Now, they’re on the same playing field I’m on. My chip is to be the best thing that’s walking going into the NFL Draft and to continue what I’ve been doing, what got me started. My goal is to be the best player in the league.
Boyle: What teams did you interview with? Did any teams express any major interest?
Norman: About 21 teams. Some definitely did, and there were others who just wanted to ask questions.
Boyle: What do you plan on doing between now and the NFL Draft?
Norman: First off, I’m going to get me a movie and watch on my 70-inch TV. I haven’t done that in three months. That’s the first thing I’m going to do. Then I’m back the go — Myrtle Beach to Atlanta to Florida to New York and New Jersey. I’m pretty much bouncing around the East Coast.
Boyle: What’s the first movie you’re going to watch when you get home?
Norman: I’m going to watch the new soldier movie that just came out . It looks dope and stands for the right thing: a brotherhood.
Boyle: What do you feel are your strongest attributes, and what do you feel that you most need to improve on?
Norman: My biggest attribute: I’m big, strong, and I’ll get with you. If you’re a wide receiver, you’re not going to leave me; you’re not going to run past me. Turnovers are huge; turnovers and big hits. I call myself a crowd-pleaser. I get the fans going, have fun getting involved with them and cut up with them. We have ourselves a ball. What I do need to work on is technique, always improving and staying low coming up out of cuts.
Boyle: Who do you model your game after? Why?
Norman: I don’t have one guy. But if I had a combination of people into one, give me Charles Woodson — just a savvy, savvy guy. He’s intelligent. He makes plays. His swag is just on a whole ‘nother level. And I would say give me ‘05-‘06 Bob Sanders for his tenacity and his ferociousness. He’s a wolverine. And give me Darrelle Revis’ lockdown status, and Champ Bailey’s longevity.
Boyle: Talk about your road to the NFL. When did you decide football was what you wanted to do?
Norman: I was pretty much born into the game — five brothers, no sisters. If you don’t catch up, you get left behind. I was the second-youngest. There was a baby boy, and then there’s me. Growing up in that house, it was either kill or be killed.
Boyle: What did you think of fellow Chanticleer Jerome Simpson’s touchdown against Arizona last season?
Norman: That’s Jerome. That’s him all day, every day. He’s a leaper. People may not think that, but he’s a freaky athlete. I just started laughing, because that’s Jerome. We’re in the same boat when it comes to stuff on the field.
Boyle: I’ve heard that you grew up an Indianapolis Colts fan. What do you think the team should do about the Peyton Manning situation?
Norman: There’s no question they should keep him. I don’t know if I’m out of place to say that, but keep him. He’s arguably the best player to ever play that position. He’s a coach on the field. I’ve never seen anyone orchestrate the offense the way he does day in and day out. He’s a general. He’s a sheriff. He’s almost like the judge, the jury and the executioner at the same time.
We’d like to thank Josh for his time and wish him best of luck on the rest of his draft journey.
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