Nov. 23, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Record-shattering Vanderbilt running back and return specialist Warren Norman has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after his all-around performance in the Commodores’ 31-16 loss at Tennessee Saturday.
Norman, from Stone Mountain, Ga., received the honor after breaking the SEC freshman all-purpose yardage record set 29 years ago by Georgia great Herschel Walker. He also broke Corey Harris’ team record for all-purpose yards in a season during the effort versus Tennessee.
“I’m tremendously proud of Warren, and everything he accomplished during his first year in a Vanderbilt uniform,” Head Coach Bobby Johnson said. “He showed what a fantastic and versatile playmaker he is. I’m also proud that Warren seemed to improve with each game, and was doing everything possible to help us win. That says a lot about his character and commitment to this team. I look forward to seeing much more of Warren in the coming years.”
Norman accumulated 152 all-purpose yards against Tennessee – 73 yards on 17 rushes, 18 yards on three receptions and 61 yards on three kickoff returns.
Norman concluded the season with 1,941 all-purpose yards, 114 yards more than Harris amassed as a senior in 1991 to set the former Vanderbilt record. Norman’s total is 136 yards more than Walker gained in 1980 when he set the SEC freshman all-purpose mark.
Norman’s all-purpose total also is the 11th highest single-season total in SEC history.
With one game remaining for many teams in the nation, Norman’s 162.8-yard all-purpose average ranks first in the SEC and 12th in the NCAA. He also tops all freshmen in the nation in all-purpose yardage.
Norman ranks seventh in the SEC with 783 rushing yards, and finishes just 17 yards shy of Kwane Doster’s team rushing mark for freshmen.
Norman became the SEC’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards in a season, amassing 1,050 yards on 40 returns. His 26.3-yard kickoff return average also is a new standard for modern-day Commodore returners, bettering the 25.7-yard average previously set by Doster in 2001 and D.J. Moore in 2007.
Norman also matched former Tennessee standout Willie Gault as the only players in SEC history to return three kickoffs for touchdowns in a single season, performing the feat against Army, South Carolina and Georgia Tech. Norman’s return at Army was the first Commodore kickoff return for a score since 1998.
Norman and roommate Zac Stacy formed a solid 1-2 freshman rushing duo for the Commodores. Stacy finished the year with 457 rushing yards, the ninth highest total ever by a Vanderbilt freshman.
