Chris Norman Class: Sophomore Hometown: Detroit, Mich. High School: Renaissance Height / Weight: 6-1 / 220 Position: LB Experience: 1L

• Career Stats
• 2009 Game-by-Game Statistics

Second-year player ranks as the heir apparent to replace Brandon Denson at star linebacker . . . posted five tackles, including two sacks for 15 yards, in the April 17 scrimmage.

2009 SEASON (FRESHMAN): True freshman appeared in all 13 games in 2009 and recorded 11 tackles . . . tallied two tackles in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Texas Tech . . . also recorded two tackles each at Minnesota and at Wisconsin . . . made his first career start at will linebacker at Notre Dame . . . collected one tackle each vs. Purdue, Michigan, Notre Dame, Central Michigan and Montana State.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Earned a gold medal (along with MSU incoming freshman Micajah Reynolds) as Team USA won the inaugural International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio . . . named to IFAF Junior World Championship All-Tournament Team (first-team defense) after totaling eight tackles in three games, with two resulting in losses . . . recorded two solo stops in the championship game vs. Canada, including a touchdown-saving tackle late in the first quarter . . . had the honor of carrying the American flag while leading Team USA onto the field for the gold-medal game . . . produced three solo tackles in the semifinals vs. Mexico, including a 4-yard sack . . . Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report, SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American . . . ranked among the nation's top prospects by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report (No. 36) . . . rated among the country's top outside linebackers by Tom Lemming (No. 3), Rivals.com (No. 6) and Scouts, Inc. (No. 28) . . . listed among the nation's top strongside linebackers by Max Emfinger Recruiting (No. 8) and Scout.com (No. 8) . . . ranked among the country's top linebackers by SuperPrep (No. 27) . . . named high school finalist for the 2008 Butkus Award . . . rated among the Midwest's top prospects by SuperPrep (No. 18) . . . listed among the state's top seniors by the Lansing State Journal (No. 2), Rivals.com (No. 3), Detroit Free Press (No. 3) and The Detroit News (No. 10) . . . three-year starter for Coach Antonio Watts at Renaissance High School in Detroit, Mich. . . . Associated Press Division 5-6 All-State first-team selection in 2008 . . . first-team All-Detroit pick by the Detroit Free Press as a senior . . . recorded 109 tackles (51 solos, 58 assists) in 2008, with 34 resulting in losses including 6.5 sacks (58 yards) . . . posted double-figure tackles in six games as a senior . . . registered 15 tackles vs. Detroit Central, including two sacks (13 yards) . . . made 14 stops and recovered a fumble in a 20-0 victory over Denby Tech . . . produced a career-best 18 tackles vs. Mumford, including two sacks (19 yards) . . . credited with 13 stops, including a sack, and a fumble recovery vs. Detroit Pershing . . . recorded 97 tackles, three interceptions and five pass break-ups as a junior while anchoring a Phoenix defensive unit that allowed just 12 points per game . . . notched 19 tackles for loss in 2007, including seven sacks . . . contributed 42 tackles (13 solos, 29 assists) as a sophomore . . . produced double-digit tackles in 11 career games . . . also lettered in track and field . . . graduated from high school with a 3.2 grade-point average . . . son of Ronnette Black . . . born May 31, 1991 . . . participated in the July 2010 Heroes for Kids golf outing, benefiting Saginaw (Mich.) youth recreation programs . . . participates in Athletes in Action sports ministry. . . no-preference major.