Jerious Norwood

Click here for Norwood's updated stats from NFL.com

Transactions
Originally selected as a third round (79th pick overall) draft choice by the Atlanta Falcons in 2006.

Career
Overtook William Andrews with 2,207 combined yards, a franchise record in 2007, which included 1,317 kickoff return yards (5th in the NFC).

Boasts a career average of 6.2 yards per carry. Of his 633 rushing yards in 2006, 424 came in the fourth quarter, ranking him second in the NFL behind Chiefs RB Larry Johnson (430).

Was the third player in NFL history to have his first three career touchdown runs each go over 60-plus yards. His 78-yard touchdown run against Arizona in Week 4 marked the second longest in Falcons history (behind RB Warrick Dunn’s 90-yard touchdown carry the following week against the New York Jets).

Impressed scouts with the fastest 40-time (4.33) at the 2006 NFL Combine.

2007 (Falcons)
Finished second on the team in rushing with 613 yards on 103 carries with one touchdown. Also contributed with 277 receiving yards and 1,317 kickoff return yards.

Recorded three kickoff returns for 144 yards (48.0 avg.) including a season-long 76-yard return at Tennessee (10/7) in addition to collecting 23 rushing yards on six carries on the ground, and posted two receptions for four yards through the air.

Posted a career-high 225 all-purpose yards vs. New York (10/15) by rushing for a season-high 87 yards (14.5 avg.) on six carries with one touchdown (67 yards), and recording four receptions for a season-high 51 yards in addition to adding 87 yards on five kickoff return yards on five attempts.

Started his first career NFL game vs. Indianapolis (11/22) and recorded 33 rushing yards on six attempts on the ground, in addition to posting one reception for nine yards. Tallied six kickoff return attempts for a season-high 158 yards on special teams.

2006 (Falcons)
Played in 14 contests and ranked third on the team with 633 rushing yards on 99 carries (6.4 avg.) with two touchdowns to go along with 12 receptions for 102 yards. Also returned 13 kickoffs for 320 yards and tallied three special teams tackles.

Posted 106 rushing yards on six carries (17.7 avg.), including a career-long and then team record long 78-yard touchdown run vs. Arizona (10/1). Part of a rushing attack that rushed for over 200 yards (262 yards) for the third time in four games.

Registered a career-high 107 yards on nine carries with one touchdown at Washington (12/3). Part of a running game that totaled 256 yards on the ground in a 24–14 win over the Redskins.

College
Started 29 of 46 games for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, setting a school record with 3,222 career rushing yards on 573 carries (5.6 avg.) with 15 touchdowns. As a three-year starter, he rushed for over 100 yards on 13 occasions, surpassing the previous school record of 12 set by Walter Packer and James Johnson.

Recipient of the Conerly Award as a senior, which is given to the top college player in the state of Mississippi, after leading the team rushing with 191 carries for 1,136 yards (5.9 avg.) with six touchdowns and no fumbles as a senior.

Started every game as a junior as he became the sixth player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season, rushing for 1,050 yards on 195 carries with seven touchdowns. Tallied five games of 100+ rushing yards, including one 200-yard performance.

Named to the Knoxville News SEC All-Freshman team as a kickoff returner. Finished second on the club with 66 rushes for 394 yards (6.0 avg.). Also caught five passes for 47 yards and returned 14 kickoffs for 292 yards.

Personal
Played football, baseball, basketball and track at Brandon (MS) High School, where he recorded 92 career touchdowns to rank fourth all-time on the state career-scoring list and accounted for more than 8,000 all-purpose yards.

Named Mississippi’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior as he rushed for 2,152 yards and scored 32 touchdowns. Also caught nine passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 46.9 yards on six kickoff returns with one touchdown. Also rushed for a school record 367 yards during a playoff game.

Totaled 3,229 all-purpose yards and 38 touchdowns during a standout junior season.

Born Jerious Montreal Norwood on July 29, 1983 in Jackson, Mississippi. Has one daughter, Janila.