Dennis Norfleet Explained

Dennis Norfleet
Currentnumber:23, 26
Currentposition:Wide receiver, running back
Birth Date:8 February 1993
Heightft:5
Heightin:7
Weight:169
Highschool:Martin Luther King (Detroit, Michigan)
Pastschools:
Espn:535146

Dennis Sheldon Norfleet (born February 8, 1993) is a former American football player.

High school career

Norfleet played high school football at Detroit's Martin Luther King High School. As a senior in 2011, he rushed for 2,033 yards and 27 touchdowns.[1] [2] [3] [4] As a junior, he rushed for 254 yards against regional football power Brother Rice in the 2010 season opener.[5] A versatile player, he played at running back, slot receiver, defensive back, kick returner, punter and placekicker in high school.[6] Detroit King head coach Dale Harvel said of Norfleet, "What can I say? He does everything for us. He plays wherever we need him. Call him Jim Thorpe."[6]

In August 2011, the Detroit Free Press named Norfleet as the most exciting player in Michigan high school football, calling him "lightning quick and more powerful than many think."[7] Tom Markowski of The Detroit News added, "Pound for pound, if he's not the state's best football player, he's the most exciting."[6]

Norfleet was a three-sport star at Detroit King, also playing as a guard on the basketball team and running as a sprinter on the track team.[8] [9] He captured the state title in the 100-meter dash event at the 2010 State Class 2-A Meet, recording a personal-best time of 10.60 seconds.[10]

University of Michigan

Norfleet initially committed in August 2011 to play for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, but he switched his commitment on February 1, 2012, after receiving a late offer from Michigan.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Norfleet was kicked off the team prior to the 2015 season and transferred to Division II Tuskegee.[16]

2012 season

As a true freshman, Norfleet became Michigan's kickoff return specialist.[17] In his first game for Michigan, Norfleet led the Wolverines with 177 all-purpose yards, including a 33-yard kickoff return, against Alabama.[18] [19] After the loss to Alabama, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com wrote: "About the only positive for Michigan in the first half was the play of freshman kick returner Dennis Norfleet, who showed good instincts and speed."[20]

On November 10, 2012, Norfleet passed Steve Breaston to move into second place in Michigan's record book in both number of kickoff returns in a season and kickoff return yards in a season.[21] He trails only Darryl Stonum in Michigan's record book; Stonum returned 39 kickoffs for 1,001 yards for the 2009 team.[22] [23] Through the first 11 games of the 2012 season, Norfleet had returned 33 kickoffs for 768 yards, an average of 23.5 yards per return.[24]

Norfleet also returned two punts for 53 yards, including a 42-yard return against Illinois, for an average of 26.5 yards per return.[24] His 43-yard punt return against Illinois nearly resulted in a touchdown, but Norfleet ran into the punter and fell before scoring.[25] He saw little action as a running back during his time as a freshman. In his first carry as a running back, Norfleet ran for 14 yards against UMass on September 15, 2012.[24] [26]

Professional career

In the spring of 2016, Norfleet participated in Michigan's Pro Day.[27]

Norfleet signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on April 26, 2017 and was released shortly thereafter on May 1, 2017.[28] [29]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dennis Norfleet Profile. University of Michigan. https://web.archive.org/web/20160521081116/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/norfleet_dennis00.html. May 21, 2016. dead.
  2. News: Mick McCabe. With Dennis Norfleet afoot, Detroit King rolls on. Detroit Free Press. November 5, 2011.
  3. News: Meet Detroit King's Dennis Norfleet. Detroit Free Press. September 13, 2011. Julian H. Gonzalez. November 10, 2012.
  4. News: Rick Schulte. Football roundup: Detroit King, Dennis Norfleet roll over Wyandotte. Detroit Free Press. November 12, 2011. November 10, 2012.
  5. News: Dennis Norfleet runs wild in Detroit King's 32-19 opening-week football win over Brother Rice. Francis Ralko. August 28, 2010.
  6. News: Tom Markowski. Norfleet does it all for King. August 24, 2011. The Detroit News.
  7. News: Dennis Norfleet, Brian Blackburn among must-see players in Michigan. August 19, 2011. Detroit Free Press.
  8. News: John Markowski. Blue Chip profiles: Dennis Norfleet enjoys being three-sport athlete. The Detroit News. January 31, 2012.
  9. News: Dennis Norfleet runs for 186 yards as Detroit King beats Detroit Crockett, 26-14. Tom Barry . MLive.com. September 2, 2011 .
  10. Web site: SiteApp.
  11. News: Detroit King's Dennis Norfleet switches commitment to Michigan. Detroit Free Press. February 1, 2012.
  12. News: Justin Rogers. Michigan recruit Dennis Norfleet told he'll start as returner and slot receiver. Mlive.com. February 1, 2012.
  13. News: Michael Rothstein. How Michigan will use Dennis Norfleet. ESPN.com. February 9, 2012.
  14. News: Kyle Meinke. Michigan football team picks up surprise commit from 4-star Detroit tailback Dennis Norfleet. AnnArbor.com. February 1, 2012.
  15. News: Andrea Adelson. RB Norfleet switches from UC to Michigan. ESPN.com. February 1, 2012.
  16. Web site: Dennis Norfleet. Tuskegee University. August 19, 2017.
  17. News: Kyle Meinke. True freshman speedster Dennis Norfleet a leading candidate at kick return for Michigan football. AnnArbor.com. August 23, 2012.
  18. Web site: Michigan Football Statistics (1-game Totals). University of Michigan. September 2, 2012. November 11, 2012.
  19. News: Angelique S. Chengelis. It's been (mostly) happy returns for Michigan's Dennis Norfleet. The Detroit News. September 10, 2012.
  20. News: Michael Rothstein. Halftime Instant Analysis: Bama 31, U-M 7. September 1, 2012.
  21. News: Angelique S. Chengelis. Michigan's Fitz Toussaint shows signs of getting untracked. The Detroit News. November 10, 2012.
  22. Web site: Darryl Stonum. University of Michigan.
  23. Web site: Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page . University of Michigan . October 17, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071112175906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php . November 12, 2007 . (Enter "Stonum" in the field for "Enter last name" and then click "Display Career" to view career statistics)
  24. Web site: Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page . University of Michigan . November 17, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071112175906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php . November 12, 2007 . (Enter "Norfleet" in the field for "Enter last name" and then click "Display Career" to view career statistics)
  25. News: Breakdown: Michigan, Michigan State set for defensive battle. Luke Pasch. October 18, 2012.
  26. Web site: Michigan Football Statistics (10-game Totals). University of Michigan. November 10, 2012.
  27. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=124556&draftyear=2016&genpos=wr
  28. Web site: Riders Transactions- April 26th. 26 April 2017.
  29. Web site: Roster Roundup: Teams make cuts as May deadline hits. May 2017.

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