SPRINGDALE — There’s always seemingly one under-the-radar player in Arkansas that sees his recruiting take off in the summer of his senior season.
That prospect this year is Fort Smith Northside senior cornerback Tre Norwood (5-11, 170 pounds), who got four new offers in June and was one of top cornerbacks at this past weekend's Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase in Springdale.
Norwood now has offers from Minnesota, Louisville, Wake Forest, Memphis, South Alabama, Middle Tennessee State and interest from Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Ohio and Abilene Christian.
“Right now I am just trying to enjoy the process and embrace it day by day and make sure I try to take it the right way and just trying to enjoy the entire thing,” Norwood said.
He will soon head down for workouts at Alabama and Auburn.
“I am going down for an individual workout for both of them,” Norwood said. “We’ll see how that goes.”
Arkansas has not offered, but has showed interest.
“I have talked to them some, but I am not sure how it is going to go,” Norwood said. “…It would certainly be of interest to me if Arkansas offers.”
Norwood said Saturday that he is currently planning on committing to a school before August.
“I am looking to get it done by the end of this month,” Norwood said. “I was going to do it on my mom’s birthday, which is August 17th, but now I am trying to get it finished before that.”
He has not visited any of the schools that have offered him yet, but has plans to visit Wake Forest and Minnesota, where former Fort Smith Northside cornerback Kiondre Thomas will be a freshman this season.
“I haven’t been to see any of then yet, but I am supposed to be going up to Wake Forest on (July) the 28th,” Norwood said.
“Kiondre is telling me that he loves it up there (Minnesota) and that it is a great place. I am probably going to take a visit up there and see how that is.”
Northside head coach Mike Falleur says that cornerback coach Felix Curry Curry has labeled Norwood the best corner he has ever coaches.
“It is humbling, but also makes me want to work harder and get even better,” Norwood said. “It’s all good for me.”
Falleur is certainly a big fan of the young man’s.
“He is a great player and better than that he is a great kid, a straight A student, a guy that you would want to be your son because he does everything the right way,” Falleur said.
“He is getting bigger and more physical. Coach Curry has coached corners for a long time and says he is as good a corner as he has ever coached. Some might be bigger or faster, but as for playing corner, he is a good as he has ever had.”
Northside opens its season on Sept. 2 by hosting Greenwood.
“We are just trying to make a good run in the conference and make it to the playoffs and have a shot at the state title,” Norwood said. “That is our big goal.”