Steelers select Norwood in the seventh round

📄: Finishing the job | 📸: Norwood in pictures | 📺: Norwood Press Conference | 📺: College Highlights | 📺: Pick AnnouncementThe Steelers selected safety Tre Norwood in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the 245th overall pick. “It means a lot. It’s a blessing to hear my name be called, have this opportunity,” said Norwood of being selected by the Steelers. “It’s a historical organization. Being able to have an opportunity to come to Pittsburgh and be a part of the organization means a lot to me. I can’t wait to get there and get to work.” Norwood, who played at the University of Oklahoma, played in 11 games in 2020, starting five. He was the Big 12 co-leader, and tied for third nationally, with five interceptions, coming in the Sooners final six games of the season. Norwood had 23 tackles and two pass defenses and was named Outstanding Defensive Player of the 2020 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic after returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in a win over No. 10 Florida. When announcing the pick from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Coach Mike Tomlin referred to Norwood as a ‘Swiss Army knife utility back safety.’ “I am a guy who in college played everywhere,” said Norwood. “I always prided myself on being able to know every position in the back end. I think that has helped me out a lot in my career. A Swiss Army knife is a term my coaches used to describe me in college. It’s something I pride myself in, being able to play any position on the back end. “I am comfortable with any position on the back end. If I had to pinpoint a position, the slot, the nickel position, being able to be effective in the run game and pass game, but I am comfortable playing any position in the back end.” Norwood said having the knowledge of all of the positions is something that has benefitted him during his college career, and he doesn’t mind continuing it. “It’s not too difficult,” said Norwood. “I have always prided myself on those things, trained myself mentally. I think it brings a lot of value, especially with the way the game is these days, being able to have guys who can play out on the corner, be a free safety, it brings a lot of help to the defensive side of the ball.”Tre Norwood Cornerback Oklahoma 6-0, 194 Fort Smith, Arkansas Northside High School 7th Round – 245th Overall 2020 SEASON Played in all 11 games and made five starts ... all five starts came in last six contests ... Big 12 co-leader and tied for third nationally with five interceptions (all came in season's final six games) ... totaled 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 assists) and two pass breakups … named Outstanding Defensive Player of the 2020 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic after returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and adding two tackles in win over No. 10 Florida (12/30) ... registered a season-high six tackles (four solo) and an interception in the end zone in Big 12 Championship win vs. No. 8 Iowa State (12/19) ... returned an interception 34 yards and tallied three stops (one solo) vs. Baylor (12/5) ... notched two interceptions (both in first quarter) in first start of season at Texas Tech (10/31) ... recorded three stops (two solo) at TCU (10/24) ... registered three solo tackles vs. No. 22 Texas (10/10). 2019 SEASON Missed season due to injury sustained in August camp.2018 SEASON Started all 14 games … tied for fifth on the team with 58 tackles ... registered five pass breakups and one interception ... made five tackles against No. 1 Alabama in CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl (12/29) ... interception came in final minute of Big 12 Championship win against No. 9 Texas (12/1) ... had three tackles and two pass breakups at No. 12 West Virginia (11/23) ... made six stops against Kansas (11/17) ... finished with six tackles (one for loss) against Oklahoma State (11/10) ... tallied six tackles against Baylor (9/29) ... made five stops at Iowa State (9/15) ... had four tackles and one sack against UCLA (9/8) ... recorded four tackles and a pass breakup against Florida Atlantic (9/1). 2017 SEASON Played in all 14 games with starts in each of the last five ... ranked second on team with eight pass breakups ... finished with 30 tackles ... made four tackles and broke up a pass vs. Georgia in CFP Semifinal at Rose Bowl (1/1) ... recorded five tackles against TCU in Big 12 Championship Game (12/2) ... finished with four tackles in start against West Virginia (11/25) ... broke up two passes and made five tackles in start at Kansas (11/18) ... matched career high with two pass breakups and had a tackle in first career start against TCU (11/11) ... led team with a career-high seven tackles and broke up two passes at Oklahoma State (11/4) ... broke up a pass and made two tackles in OU debut against UTEP (9/2).HIGH SCHOOL A three-star recruit according to 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout ... rated as the No. 53 cornerback in the country by 247Sports, No. 93 by ESPN and No. 105 by Scout ... tabbed as the No. 4 player in the state of Arkansas by 247Sports and No. 9 player by ESPN ... named to the 2016 All-Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Division I First Team. PERSONAL Graduated in December 2020 with a communication degree.