Gamecocks Eric Norwood is truly a "All-American"

Gamecocks Linebacker Eric Norwood is very fitting of the award of being named a All American by the AP and being named to Sporting News Squad.  Not only has Eric Norwood left his mark on the Gamecocks history books on the field (Norwood is Carolina's all-time leader in both sacks (29.0) and tackles for loss (54.5) and is the SEC active leader in both categories), he's also left his mark in the classroom.

Eric Norwood graduated this past weekend from USC with a criminal justice degree in just 3 1/2 years.  He is the first in his family to get a college education.  Keep in mind this is a guy that was denied admission to USC but was determined.  He got in and through that determination has left his mark on Carolina in many ways.

Eric is truly deserving of all the praise he gets as he is a first-class guy.  He is the first Gamecock since Ko Simpson (2005) to make a first-team All-America squad, and the first Gamecock to be named to the AP first team since 1984 – when both Del Wilkes and James Seawright made the squad.

The 6′ 1″ Georgia native will play his final game at USC on January 2 in the Papajohns.com Bowl against Connecticut.

Congrats Mr. Norwood!