Alabama WR Kevin Norwood a Surprise Investment Ready To Pay Off

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fla.) Like the picture above, D'Iberville, Mississippi's Kevin Norwood, No. 83, has just been another face the crowd, just one more player in a sea of talent wearing crimson. He was outside the top 20 by Rivals as a high school senior and only the fifth best receiver in the state of Mississippi, but when the Tide signed him, Saban knew he had made a good investment.

With murderous speed on one side in the form of Marquis Maze and dazzling playmaking ability on the other in the form of Julio Jones, you would think there's nowhere for Norwood to shine this year, and you'd be wrong.

This is a guy that has come a long way since his signing with Alabama. Bouncing up near 6'3" and hovering around 190 pounds, this is not a guy that can be bumped at the line by a cornerback, or brought down easily.

With the ability to be a breakaway threat on one hand and the added ability to be a brute to muscle that last yard for a first down, this is a young man that just oozes big play potential and all the coaches see it and know it.

Expect to see him at slot receiver and as a replacement wideout. He is going to ease the pain of losing Julio Jones to the NFL at the end of this season for all the Alabama fans.

After all, Nick Saban is in full blown reload mode right now, not rebuilding.

Like Julio, he is not a receiver brought down with arm tackles. This is a guy that dishes out punishment better than he takes it.

That will help him get some playing time this year, because nobody plays on a Nick Saban offense that can't or won't block well and Norwood likes the physical side of his position.

He has great instincts and very good hands and knows what to do with the ball once he catches it. He's a threat to take every catch to the house and by the end of the season, will be a household name.

If he was only the fifth best receiver in Mississippi, why aren't the top four going to make highlight footage like this young man will this year?

A good coach can spot a jewel in the rough, and just like that kind of good investment that you know has a potential for a good payout, this is the year we start getting dividends from this investment.

By 2011, this man could be an All-American gold mine for Alabama, but don't wait until then, start enjoying the payoff on this investment now. I don't think it will take long for him to start paying off.