Jerious Norwood Jerious Montreal Norwood ( born July 29 , 1983 in Jackson , Mississippi ) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft . He played college football at Mississippi State . Early years . He played football at Brandon High School in Brandon , Mississippi where he was a high school All - America n . He was also Mississippi ' s " Mr . Football " , an honor given to the state ' s most outstanding high school football player . While at Brandon High he recorded 92 career touchdown s to rank fourth all - time on the state career - scoring list and accounted for more than 8 , 000 all - purpose yards . He totaled 3 , 229 all - purpose yards and 38 touchdowns during a junior season . Norwood was also named Mississippi ' s Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior as he rushed for 2 , 878 yards and scored 32 touchdowns . He also recorded nine receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns , while averaging 46 . 9 yards on six kick returns with one touchdown . He also rushed for a school record 367 yards during a playoff game . College career . As a three - year starter , at Mississippi State , he rushed for over 100 yards on 13 occasions , surpassing the previous school record of 12 set by Walter Packer and James Johnson . He also started 29 of 46 games , setting a school record with 3 , 222 career rushing yards on 573 carries ( 5 . 6 avg . ) with 15 touchdowns . Freshman ( 2002 ) . In 2002 , Norwood was named to the " Knoxville News Sentinel " Southeastern Conference All - Freshman team as a kick returner . He finished second on the team with 66 rushes for 394 yards ( 6 . 0 avg . ) . He also caught five passes for 47 yards and returned 14 kicks for 292 yards . Sophomore ( 2003 ) . In 2003 , Norwood appeared in every game with eight starts . He finished the season with 121 carries for 642 yards and two touchdowns . Junior ( 2004 ) . In 2004 , Norwood started every game as he became the sixth player in school history to rush for over 1 , 000 yards in a season , rushing for 1 , 050 yards on 195 carries with seven touchdowns . He recorded five games of 100 - plus rushing yards , including one 200 - yard performance . Senior ( 2005 ) . As a senior , Norwood won the Conerly Award , which is given to the top college player in the state of Mississippi , after leading the team rushing with 191 carries for 1 , 136 yards ( 5 . 9 avg . ) with six touchdowns and no fumbles . He ranked second on the team with 19 receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns . Norwood also registered four punt returns for 43 yards . His 1 , 275 all - purpose yards on 214 plays rank eighth in school history . Professional career . 2006 NFL Draft . Norwood was drafted by the Falcons in the third round ( 79th overall ) of the 2006 NFL Draft . 2006 . In 2006 , Norwood played in 14 games and ranked third on the team with 633 rushing yards on 99 carries ( 6 . 4 avg . ) with two touchdowns to go along with 12 receptions for 102 yards . He also returned 13 kickoffs for 320 yards and tallied three special teams tackles . Norwood was the first player in NFL history to have his first two career touchdown runs each go 70 + yards . His 78 - yard touchdown run against Arizona in Week 4 marked the second longest in Falcons history behind running back Warrick Dunn ' s 90 - yard touchdown carry the following week against the New York Giants . He rushed 10 times for 66 yards in his NFL debut at the Carolina Panthers . He recorded his first career reception , for 12 yards , against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with nine carries for 45 yards with a long of 23 yards . In week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals , Norwood ran for 106 rushing yards on six carries ( 17 . 7 avg . ) , including a career - long and , a then team record long 78 - yard touchdown run . That game , he and QB Mike Vick both ran for over 100 yards , which made the Falcons the only NFL team to ever record " two " games in a franchise ' s history where both the quarterback and a running back on the same team surpassed the 100 - yard mark in the same game . ( Vick and Warrick Dunn both eclipsed 100 yards in Week 2 ) . Later on in the season , Norwood recorded 64 rushing yards on eight carries against the Pittsburgh Steelers in along with one reception for five yards . He also recorded one kickoff return for 27 yards . Norwood recorded a career - high 107 yards on nine carries with one touchdown at the Washington Redskins . He ran the ball seven times for 32 yards and recorded one reception for four yards before leaving in the third quarter with an injury ( knee ) in Tampa Bay . Norwood recorded 63 rushing yards on 10 carries at the Philadelphia Eagles , along with three catches for 28 yards ( 9 . 3 avg . ) . He finished sixth among all rookie running backs with 633 rushing yards on 99 carries and his 6 . 4 average yards per carry ranked second highest in the NFL , topped only by teammate QB Michael Vick ( 8 . 4 avg . ) . 2007 . In 15 regular season games , Norwood gained 633 yards on 99 carries , with an NFL - best 6 . 3 yards per carry for running backs , overall was surpassed in yards per carry only by quarterback Michael Vick , who had over an eight - yard average . In 2007 , Norwood started the season off by rushing five times for 33 yards , with two receptions for 24 yards at the Minnesota Vikings . During week two at the Jaguars , he ran the ball nine times for 30 yards , along with one reception for 13 yards . In the Falcons home opener , Norwood carried the ball six times for 32 yards , adding on three receptions for 34 yards . The next week against the Houston Texans . he rushed the ball nine times for 29 yards , along with two receptions for 16 yards . In the a game at the Tennessee Titans , Norwood carried the ball six times for 23 yards , while recording two receptions for four yards . In the next loss to , to the New York Giants , Norwood recorded his first offensive touchdown of the season , along with recording six rushes for 87 yards , one touchdown , while recording four receptions for 51 yards . During the Falcons week seven loss to the New Orleans Saints , he carried the ball six times for 38 yards , while adding three receptions for one yard . In a week nine win over the San Francisco 49ers , Norwood ran the ball six times for 39 yards . Norwood missed the Falcons week 10 rematch against the Panthers . In his return in week 11 , he carried the ball twice for four yards , and recording two receptions for 10 yards against the Buccaneers . During a week 12 loss to the Indianapolis Colts , Norwood rushed the ball six times for 33 yards and recorded one reception for nine yards . In week 13 against the St . Louis Rams , he carried the ball eight times for 94 yards , while recording three receptions for 21 yards . During a week 14 rematch with the Saints , Norwood carried the ball six times for 21 yards , along with recording two receptions for 57 yards . In the week 15 rematch with Tampa Bay he carried the ball nine times for 73 yards . In a week 16 match up against the Arizona Cardinals , Norwood rushed the ball eight times for 31 yards , along with one receptions for - 4 yards . In the 2007 season finale against the Seattle Seahawks , he ran the ball a season high 11 times for 46 yards , along with two receptions for 41 yards . St . Louis Rams . Norwood signed with the St . Louis Rams on August 2 , 2011 . Personal . Norwood has a daughter named Janila . He enjoys hunting , fishing , and NASCAR , and he has a foundation that takes children on outdoor adventures . His wife died three years ago from cancer . His Nickname is Jerious " The Fast and Furious " Norwood , because of his incredible speed and ferociousness .