End run: OSU's Slade Norris has turned his life, and football career, around

Jesuit High grad winning 'chess games' on the field and helping to lead Beaver defense

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Oct 15, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Oregon State's Slade Norris brings down Washington State quarterback Marshall Lobbestael in the Beavers' 66-13 victory. The former walk-on has become a mainstay for defensive coordinator Mark Banker.

BETH BUGLIONE / COURTESY OF OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

CORVALLIS — Slade Norris is a major figure in the Oregon State football program now, a cornerstone in an emerging defense that should prove a formidable challenge Saturday for a winless Washington team in Seattle.

It wasn’t always like that.

The 6-2, 240-pound senior defensive end, who began his career as a walk-on safety before converting to linebacker, has moved up from the bottom of the depth charts to become an every-down player and an honors candidate this season.

There have been speed bumps along the way.

Norris seemed at a crossroads in 2005. A redshirt freshman who wasn’t playing in games and hadn’t really found a position, the Jesuit High grad was on academic probation, disillusioned with his place at Oregon State and in danger of getting kicked out of school.

“I’m not sure where it started,” Norris says. “I got away from home for the first time, and unfortunately took it to the wrong extreme. I wasn’t playing, I got involved in the social scene and didn’t take care of business. I needed to refocus.”

Norris met with Oregon State coach Mike Riley and his parents, Randy and Sue Norris.

“I decided I had to turn my life around,” Slade Norris says. “It was something I had to do. It wasn’t who I was. I kind of lost myself for a while.

“I started to focus on what was important, talked to my parents a lot, and they helped me get through it.”

The next year, an opportunity came along on the football field.

Midway through the season, a scout-team defensive end was missing and assistant coach Greg Newhouse was looking for volunteers.

“Coach Newhouse was telling me, ‘Go take some snaps at D-end,’ " says Norris, a scout-team linebacker at the time. “I was like, 'What do I do?’ I’d never played it before. He said, ‘Just go get the quarterback.’

“So I did it, and the first three plays I was in the quarterback’s face. That’s how it started.”

A few weeks later, offensive tackle Adam Koets — now with the Super Bowl champion New York Giants — sought out Riley.

“Slade’s the best guy I’ve gone against all year,” Koets told the coach.

That winter, Riley visited with new D-line coach Joe Seumalo.

“You gotta look at this guy,” Riley told him. “He might be a player.”

That spring, Norris impressed in his audition at defensive end. The next fall, he and Victor Butler, both juniors, were used as pass-rush specialists, primarily on third down. They combined for a remarkable 19 1/2 sacks despite the part-time duty and were integral parts of the defense that was No. 1 in the nation against the rush and fourth in sacks.

This season, with 2007 starters Dorian Smith and Jeff Van Orsow departed, Norris and Butler have been needed as front-liners. During the first two games, at Stanford and Penn State, they struggled.

Over the last month, though, the pair has gathered steam. In the last two games, Norris was all over the field, recording 15 tackles, 4 sacks, 9 1/2 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit