Standing at 6’8” and 306 lbs., Toledo’s Storm Norton is a mammoth of an offensive tackle and was part of a highly productive unit in 2015, as the offensive line allowed the second-fewest sacks in the country with five while also leading the MAC in rushing with 207.9 yards per game. Norton’s efforts last season earned him First-Team All-MAC honors as well as a place on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, and with four of five starters returning on the line in 2016, he should be able to have similar success this season.
The Whitmer High School (OH) product chose the Rockets in 2012 over offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo and Kent State, and the three-star recruit had to wait until his redshirt-junior year before he got his first collegiate start. It’s safe to say that he hasn’t looked back since those starts in 2014 as some in the media have pegged him anywhere from the seventh- to the seventeenth-best offensive tackle in this draft class.
By watching his film against Temple below, you can see why he’s drawing serious interest from the League. Against some really good competition, he’s able to move his feet well in pass protection (which is really hard for someone as big as he is) and he does a good job of finishing blocks on run plays. His length makes him an intriguing prospect at the next level and his strength isn’t much of an issue either. Rocket fans ought to be excited to have another year to watch Norton dominate MAC defensive ends in 2016.