Top 5 Running Backs in Mississippi State History

Number 2: Jerious Norwood

If you were to take all four years that any player has ever played for Mississippi State, the class that Jerious Norwood came to Starkville might have been on the team were the worst four years collectively. Norwood played for Mississippi State from 2002, the next to last year of the Sherrill era, until 2005, year number 2 of the Croom era. Despite the terrible football being played by Mississippi State during this stretch, the Bulldogs had one of their best running backs to ever suit up.

Norwood was the lone bright spot for Mississippi State during this time. He split the bulk of the Mississippi State carries with Fred Reid and Justin Griffith his Freshman season, but his yards per carry were almost an entire yard better than either of the other two players. Norwood would again split carries with the oft maligned Nick Turner in 2003. He did not become the primary feature back until his Junior season in 2004 when Sylvester Croom took over.

In 2004, he broke out for 1,050 yards in 11 games and followed it up the next season with 1,136 yards in 2005. When he left Mississippi State, he was the all time leading rusher for the school. Despite the personal success, Norwood saw a lot of losing while playing for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs went 11-35 in the four years that Norwood was a Bulldog.

He would be drafted in the 2006 draft by the Atlanta Falcons in the 3rd round and had a very productive career. He was the third leading rusher on the Falcons his rookie season with over 600 yards, and was the second leading rusher on the team his second year in the league.