Bryce Norman anchors SEMO's defense with 15 tackles in dominant victory

SEMO linebacker Bryce Norman delivered another standout performance with 15 tackles against Tennessee Tech, marking his 17th career game with double-digit tackles as he commanded the middle of the Redhawks' defense.

Norman has led the Redhawks in tackles since joining the team, playing right away as a freshman in 2021, and is on track to becoming the first player in SEMO history to lead the defense in tackles for 4 straight seasons.

Defensive coordinator Ricky Coon, in his fifth year calling the defense, has watched Bryce Norman grow from a young player with good instincts into a seasoned veteran who now slows the game down with his experience

“He's become more patient. He was always instinctual, which is great, but sometimes he tried to play too fast. Now, the game has slowed down for him. He sees it really well and is usually in the right position to make a play. When he was younger, he played so fast that he’d sometimes be out of control,” Coon said.

Norman believes his improved knowledge of the Redhawks' defense has elevated his game this season, enabling him to be in better position to make plays.

“Having the knowledge of what everyone else is doing around me on defense, and knowing what the Defensive line is doing in front of me, and what the secondary is doing behind me has really helped me out,” Norman said.

Norman's new understanding of his surroundings on defense was crucial in his performance against Tennessee Tech's heavy run attack. With Coach Coon's game plan emphasizing a more defensively focused 3-4 front, it allowed Norman to excel.

“We played more defensively with our three-man front, which allows the inside linebackers to make more tackles. We focused on that last week to free guys like him up to make plays. So, schematically, we put him in a position to succeed, but he still had to go out there and execute,” Coon said.

Norman's most impressive play occurred around midfield during a crucial 3rd down, where he made a tackle for loss that caught the attention of inside linebackers Coach Connor Benado.

“The biggest play he made was the tackle for loss on third and one when he shot the gap and made the stop. That was huge,” Benado said.

Norman's four years as a starter have naturally established him as a leader for the Redhawks. This season, he has prioritized leading by example for his teammates, a commitment that Coach Benado fully supports.

“He’s got the respect of all his teammates, and it really comes from how good of a player he is and what he’s done over time, along with the effort he puts in. I mean, he works the hardest at every practice for us, so that really stands out,” Benado said.

Norman is on track to become just the 10th player in SEMO history to record 300 tackles and currently leads the OVC with 68 tackles this season. With this in mind, Coach Coon believes that Bryce and the defense can continue their dominance by maintaining their focus on this week's game against Charleston Southern.

"Don't worry about last week. Prepare the same way you did last week. Nobody cares about last week, right? We have to go out and do it again. For him and for us as a team, that’s our goal," Coon said.

Bryce Norman aims to lead the Redhawks defense to another impressive victory this Saturday, October 19th, as they take on Charleston Southern University on the road at 3 p.m.