Has emerged over the last season-and-a-half as an all-conference-caliber defensive end … after compiling just 18 tackles over the first 20 games of his career, he has tallied 59 stops and seven sacks over the last 17 contests (final four games of 2014 and 13 games last season) … enters his final season solidly cemented as a starter along the Mountaineers’ offensive front … will be challenged with increased attention from opposing offenses this season, thanks to the departure of 2015 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year and current San Francisco 49er Ronald Blair.
2015: Saw action in all 13 games with 10 starts at defensive end … finished ninth on the team overall and second among defensive linemen with 38 total tackles … tied for fourth on the squad (second among linemen) with 6.5 tackles for loss … also ranked fourth on the team and second among linemen with four sacks … recorded multiple tackles in 11-of-13 games … racked up a season-high six tackles, including a tackle for loss and a half-sack, in a 49-0 shutout win at Old Dominion (Sept. 26) … turned in a dominant performance with two sacks in 37-3 win at Georgia State (Oct. 10) … closed the season with multiple tackles in each of the Mountaineers final seven games, beginning with three stops and a sack in nationally televised win over archrival Georgia Southern (Oct. 22) … made four stops in triple-overtime triumph over Troy (Oct. 31) … closed the regular season with four tackles in win at South Alabama (Dec. 5) … made three tackles in the Mountaineers’ 31-28 victory over Ohio in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.
2014: Saw action in all 12 games and started the final four games of the season at defensive end ... blossomed in the starting role, recording 21 tackles and 3.5 sacks over the final four games of the campaign (wins over UL Monroe, Arkansas State, UL Lafayette and Idaho) ... showed flashes of his potential early in the season when he recorded two tackles for loss in limited action at Southern Miss in the third game of campaign ... moved into the starting lineup for the ninth game of the season following a season-ending injury to Olawale Dada ... made six tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in starting debut against UL Monroe ... tallied a career-high nine stops, including a nine-yard sack, in romp over UL Lafayette ... closed the season with six tackles and a sack against Idaho.
2013: Played in all 12 games as a true freshman ... served as both a reserve defensive lineman and on special teams ... finished the year with nine tackles, eight of which came on defense and one on kickoff coverage ... recorded multiple tackles in three games — at Elon, at The Citadel and at Furman.
High School: Rated as a three-star prospect by Scout.com and a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … tabbed as the nation’s No. 54-rated middle linebacker by Scout.com … named the 2012 Georgia Class AAAAA Defensive Player of the Year … also earned first-team all-state recognition and was tabbed as the Clayton County Defensive Player of the Year … recorded 124 tackles, 41 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and 63 quarterback hurries as a senior … led a defense that yielded only 10 points per game in 2012 … helped lead Lovejoy to a 13-2 record and berth in Georgia AAAAAA state championship game as a senior … coached by Al Hughes … also earned two letters in wrestling.
Personal: Full name is Nathaniel Issac Norwood … born Sept. 30, 1995 (turns 20 during season) … son of Sandra Wilson … majoring in criminal justice … aspires to be an FBI agent.
