Kentucky comes up short.
The Kentucky Wildcats were hoping to land a late Christmas gift with the addition of Ball State transfer cornerback Myles Norwood.
However, after narrowing his choices to Kentucky and South Carolina, Norwood decided to commit to the Gamecocks on Thursday.
Pete Nakos of On3 broke the news first.
Ball State cornerback Myles Norwood has signed with South Carolina, @On3sports has learned.
He had 38 tackles, 2 TFLs, 10 pass break-ups and a fumble recovery in 2024. Picked Gamecocks over Kentucky.https://t.co/wMrfFrdlE6 pic.twitter.com/fHskCQLJqn
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) December 26, 2024
Norwood, a 6-foot-1, 183-pound cornerback, ended the 2024 season with 38 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and five pass deflections. Per Pro Football Focus, Norwood earned a solid coverage grade of 71.8 across 456 snaps in 12 games. The majority of his snaps were at outside cornerback, with 48 snaps recorded at the nickel position — 35 of which came in one game.
He began his collegiate career participating in track and field at Iowa Western Community College. In 2022, as a freshman, he appeared in one game for Iowa State but did not play the following year. Norwood transferred to New Mexico State in February but later decided to transfer again in the summer, opting to attend Ball State to be closer to his family.
At Ball State, he quickly worked his way into the rotation and became a key contributor. His decision to transfer to South Carolina presents an opportunity to compete at a higher level in the SEC, where he will face some of the nation’s top receivers.
For Kentucky, with several defensive backs leaving for the NFL or the transfer portal, the Wildcats need to restock their secondary with experienced players. Norwood’s combination of experience and skill would have made him a strong candidate to compete for immediate playing time, but alas, he’ll be someone the Cats have to face in Columbia next year.