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Steelers sign WR/return specialist

Ray Fittipaldo 8 years ago

The Steelers signed Levi Norwood to a futures contract Tuesday. The former Baylor Bear was cut by the Chicago Bears in August and never caught on with another team last fall.

Norwood earned all-conference honorable mention in 2013 and ’14 as a return specialist.

After cutting Dri Archer and Jacoby Jones last season the Steelers are in need of a return specialist though one could argue a spot on the 53-man roster for such a player isn’t needed. The Steelers only had 29 kickoff return attempts last season, fewer than two per game. And as long as Antonio Brown is on the team there is not a dire need for a punt returner.

Norwood had two punt returns for touchdowns as a junior. He averaged 19 yards per kickoff return as a senior.

As a receiver, he caught 47 passes for 733 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior. As a senior, he had 35 receptions for 319 yards and two touchdowns.

He was rated as the No. 59 receiver last spring in Nolan Nawrocki’s NFL draft preview. He went undrafted and was signed by the Bears. He was cut August 30.