Tre Norwood is listed on the NFL’s official draft website as a cornerback, but when the Pittsburgh Steelers’ official Twitter announced the team picked him in the draft, it labeled Norwood a safety.
Coach Mike Tomlin took an entirely different tact yet. When he announced the selection of Norwood with the 245th overall pick, Tomlin termed Norwood a “Swiss Army Knife/utility back/safety.”
Speaking to reporters over video conference call soon afterward, Norwood said that wasn’t the first time a coach had used the “Swiss Army Knife” moniker.
“It’s a good description for me,” said Norwood, who was listed as “defensive back” on the roster on Oklahoma’s official website.
“I’m a guy who in college kind of played everywhere. I always prided myself on playing anywhere on the back end (of a defense). That’s something I’ve done my whole career.”
Here's your Swiss Army Knife @steelers fans!@trenorwood_3 #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/ozSFxVajVg
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) May 1, 2021
The 6-foot, 192-pound Norwood probably earned himself the privilege to be drafted by way of his ball skills late in the 2020 season. Norwood had five interceptions over his final six games, enough to tie for the lead in the Big 12 and tie for third nationally for the season.
Norwood returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in the Cotton Bowl win against Florida, and he had two first-quarter INTs in a win against Texas Tech on Oct. 31.
Norwood missed the 2019 season because of injury. He became a starter late in his freshman season for the Sooners and made 19 consecutive starts from 2017-18 for teams that made the College Football Playoff.
He played more cornerback early in his college career but was more of a safety in his latter seasons with the Sooners.
“Especially with how the game’s played nowadays, with a lot of high-powered offenses in the league, being able to have those guys who can play out there on the corner and play on the inside or be a free safety or be a strong safety, that brings a lot of help to the defensive side of the ball,” Norwood said.
After the first four picks of the draft were devoted to offense, the Steelers went on a run of defensive players, selecting an inside linebacker (Buddy Johnson), defensive lineman (Isaiahh Loudermilk) edge rusher (Quincy Roche) and a defensive back in Norwood in Rounds 4-7.
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