Our Director of Media Relations Steve Fink passed this info along to me yesterday about senior Eric Norwood:

ESPN’s Andre Ware has included Eric Norwood in his top 5 Heisman candidates.

Matt Hayes from the Sporting News mentions Eric as “Closing In” on the Heisman race saying “South Carolina LB Eric Norwood is playing better than any defensive player in the nation.”

Other quotes:

“I haven’t seen anybody in this league this season — offense or defense — that has had a more profound impact on his team in every game than (Eric) Norwood. He is the epitome of a difference maker….If Norwood wasn’t a household name before this season, he is now.”
–Chris Low, ESPN.com

“The performance Eric Norwood put on Thursday night (vs. Ole Miss) was one of the best shows of the early season. He had 10 tackles and two sacks … At one point, Ole Miss triple-teamed Norwood … and Norwood still got the sack.”
–Bruce Feldman, ESPN.com

“That’s a real man coming up that edge. You have to account for him. We knew that, but he still made it awfully tough on us. Eric Norwood’s a real guy. He’s relentless, and you’ve got to keep four hands on him, and even sometimes with that, the pocket’s collapsing.”
–Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt

“Norwood had two sacks in the game, two quarterback hurries, 10 tackles, and he partially blocked a punt. Tennessee safety Eric Berry and Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain are suddenly the second- and third-best defensive players in the SEC behind Norwood, who has been sensational for the Gamecocks so far this season.”
–Ray Glier, New York Times