NFL Mocks Exclusive Interview with Coastal Carolina CB Josh Norman

I recently had the chance to talk with Coastal Carolina cornerback Josh Norman, who seems to be a very positive, confident player who is hoping to be selected in the 2012 NFL Draft. His chances of getting selected are not only all but certain, but he appears to be a top 100 prospect and maybe even a second round pick after he dominated the East-West Shrine week and played well at Senior Bowl week.

I asked Norman about his experiences at both the different All-Star games:

“The experience was really positive. You’re playing against some of the best players in the nation, and it’s just another opportunity to get better. The Senior Bowl was actually the first game I was slotted to go to, and so I talked to my agent about it. I was kind of ‘iffy’ about it at first, but this is what I do–I compete. Who cares about stocks in the draft or if you had a bad day? I look at it as competing with the best of the best. Any time I get an opportunity to go and line up in front of someone who is so called the ‘best’ in the nation, I will take it with no hesitation.”

Norman says he is not doing anything different to prepare for the NFL level, he’s just making it business as usual.

“The offseason is the same way–football first and foremost. Working out, lifting weights, preparing for the coming season–it’s what I do best and it’s what I love to do.”

I also asked Norman if he could pin-point a “moment” in his collegiate career that he felt defined himself, a moment when he knew he could hang with the best of the best.

“I really don’t know. I guess I can’t say I had that moment. When that moment comes, though, it will be something amazing.”

The former Coastal Carolina star says there is no huge influence in his life, nothing bigger than simply knowing right from wrong:

“The biggest influence in my life…I really don’t know. I don’t really have a big influence in my life, I just know what to do–right or wrong. That was my inspiration and guideline, just don’t do what you’re not supposed to do. It’s that voice inside your heart that tells you what’s right and what’s wrong. My mom, she is such a strong lady. She continues to just go through every day and just tell us to take care of business.”

So what is the best asset Norman offers an NFL team? He feels like he has potential to be a dominant player at the NFL level:

“I can do anything. I can shut your best receiver down, or get on a tight end and lock him down. You know, the Gronkowski’s of the league, it’s becoming a tight end driven league and no one can shut ’em down. I feel like I’m long, lengthy, and I feel like I can go get on a guy and pretty much take him out of the game. I can be a cornerback/safety hybrid type of player and just be versatile for a team.”

I asked Norman what will be the biggest challenge of the NFL “life” going forward.

“I think just not knowing what you’re getting yourself into. That’s the biggest challenge. You don’t want to step on anybody’s feet, and everything’s going to be new. You need to keep your head on a swivel, keep it up high and just do what’s right.”

Norman had an interesting combination of players he thought would be a good NFL comparison of himself, and he also told me who his favorite NFL team was:

“I grew up an Indianapolis Colts fan, but I love every team. If I could take a little mix of Charles Woodson, mixed with Bob Sanders, just tenacity, fierce, aggressive, and just taking the best the other team has to offer and doing my best to lock them down, take them out of the game.”

My final question for Josh was, if I were an NFL GM, why should I select Josh Norman?

“Because he’s going to give you all he’s got, and on top of that take the best option and I guarantee you the best on defense is going to take out the best on offense nine times out of ten, like a Darrelle Revis. I can be that guy.”

Norman certainly doesn’t lack for confidence, and he really seemed to have an upbeat personality. He has the perfect mix of confidence, cockiness, and swag that is going to entice a GM to take a shot on him in the second round, especially if he shows off some athletic ability at the Scouting Combine.