Panthers Fourth Round Pick #124 Eric Norwood OLB

[DawgzLife]

I like this pick.

2010 NFL Draft Prospect Scouting Report (from fftoolbox.com):

Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina

Norwood is one of those rare college athletes who stick around for four years and are absolute forces in all four of those seasons. The Gamecock linebacker arrived in Columbia in 2006 and promptly tied for the team lead with seven sacks as a freshman. He was named to the All-SEC First Team as both a sophomore and junior and he was even better as a senior.

Norwood led South Carolina in the following categories: solo tackles (55), tackles for loss (11.5), sacks (tied with seven), interceptions (two), quarterback hurries (11) and blocked kicks (three). He finished second in both assists (26) and total tackles (81). Even without such a remarkable 2009 campaign, Norwood was already the program's career leader with 43 tackles for loss and third with 22 sacks after just three seasons.

It goes without saying that Norwood is an extremely durable player, as he never missed a single game in his college life. Not only will NFL scouts be thrilled with that, but they also have to love Norwood's speed that makes him a standout outside 'backer. Norwood projects as a outside linebacker in a 3-4 NFL defense or perhaps a defensive end in a 4-3. He lined up at DE several times for the Gamecocks despite playing primarily as an OLB. He is a bit undersized at 6'1'' and 252 pounds so a firs-round selection is unlikely, but he will almost certainly be off the board prior to the end of round two.

[bes628]

Im a fan.

So far I got our draft at B+

[necroplasm]

I knew Panthers would get this guy.. all alone. Solid player, great attitude.

Fug yea I'm excited!

[Tweeder]

I think he was a steal at this pick.....very solid pickup

[Happy Panther]

Yep. besides the App State guy (who could be great for all i know) this is an A+ draft

[Happy Panther]

No. 124: Panthers select: Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina Grade D+

Analysis: Eric Norwood is a good pass rusher but might be undersized. He would have fit better in a 3-4 defense. With limited picks the Panthers could have went with Cam Thomas to add a DT.

Or not...

[TerriblePizza]

Norwood is a great pick. He started out as a DE his first two years. He was playing at 270, but dropped the weight when they asked him to move to OLB. He'll be a good DE if we puts some of the weight back on.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

No. 124: Panthers select: Eric Norwood, OLB, South Carolina Grade D+

Analysis: Eric Norwood is a good pass rusher but might be undersized. He would have fit better in a 3-4 defense. With limited picks the Panthers could have went with Cam Thomas to add a DT.

Or not...

a D+ grade is a joke and unjustified. I felt like Cam Thomas was a better fit but our LB core is actually a little thin if Thomas Davis is not 100%. Norwood does whatever you want and does it well. I am a fan. I give it a B grade.

[Panther59]

Yep great pick, anybody that has stiff armed The Golden Calf of Bristol like this is awesome in my book.

[Shermdog]

I think this is my favorite pick of the draft. This guy looks like a beast.

[southcakalac]

As a Gamecock fan I love this pick. Norwood was a force his entire time in college. You never heard anything bad about the guy off the field. He is extremely athletic and has good speed.

He and Captain are good friends so I am happy that they are back together on the same team again.

[SorthNarolina]

what I like about Norwood is that we can do some of our base defense with him as a down lineman, like a 5-2. That'd be nice to have a little wrinkle like that every now and then.

[Delhommey]

I can see him being used like Thomas Davis was his first year, in a kind of Joker role.

[theyhateme45]

As a Gamecock fan I love this pick. Norwood was a force his entire time in college. You never heard anything bad about the guy off the field. He is extremely athletic and has good speed.

He and Captain are good friends so I am happy that they are back together on the same team again.

The worst thing you could probably find is the dude probably didn't do his homework in high-school.... I believe he said in his panther.com interview that he graduated with like a 1.8!! Lol... that's like a D+..... In all fairness to him, academics we not an issue at USC and he did graduate early.