Film Room: Quintavion Norman

Kentucky football is always good for a national signing day surprise. In December, the Wildcats completed a flip for four-star safety Cam Dooley. Two months later, the defense is adding a late addition at off-ball linebacker after Quintavion Norman signed with Kentucky on Wednesday.

The unranked class of 2024 prospect was headed to junior college until Kentucky turned up the heat late in the process. After hosting the Peach State native for an official visit, the Wildcats shut down this recruitment and signed yet another linebacker prospect in this recruiting cycle.

KSR’s Film Room is now rolling the tape to see what Quintavion Norman will bring to Lexington. The newest signee is a hot motor defender who plays with strain and flashes good range in pursuit.

Quintavion Norman has a hot motor

Playing hard is a skill. Highlight tapes typically are not a great indicator of down-to-down effort, but it is clear that Quinatvion Norman plays with a hot motor. The Covington (Ga.) Newton linebacker is quite often playing downhill and finishing plays with good effort.

Norman is an agressive downhill blitzer who does a good job of fighting through blocks and getting into pursuit. Quite often on tape, the linebacker is making plays away from his area finishing with some wrap-and-drag tackling.

The motor runs hot for the 2024 prospect, and that gives the newest Kentucky signee room for development growth.

Range and finishing ability

That motor and high intensity effort are complemented by Quintavion Norman’s physical traits. The Peach State linebacker flashes speed and range on film.

As an off-ball blitzer, Norman closes quickly on the quarterback. The linebacker also fights off blocks to maintain the edge and then finishes the play with a tackle. Playing defense in football is about beating blocks, running to the football, and finishing the rep with tackles. Norman checks those boxes. This is a prospect that brings plenty to the table as a pursuit player and flashes range on tape.

Developmental prospect

Just a couple of weeks ago, Quintavion Norman was headed to junior college. Now the linebacker is on his way to playing SEC football in 2024. Things can change fast in recruiting. The unranked player will be Kentucky’s latest young player to enter the linebacker room.

Kentucky has some heavy turnover coming when the calendar turns to 2025. Jamon Dumas-Johnson, D’Eryk Jackson, and Daveren Rayner are each entering their likely final season in Lexington. That creates a void. A future trip to the transfer portal will be needed, but Kentucky is also attempt to develop young players at that position. Norman will plug into that role joining Jayvant Brown, Antwan Smith, Devin Smith, and Steven Soles.

Without verified measurements, there is still some unknown with Norman as a prospect but this player does flash on tape. The linebacker strikes, gets off blocks, and plays with excellent effort. Good instincts will be needed to thrive in the box at the collegiate level, but the latest Kentucky signee looks the part.

Quintavion Norman will join a big group of youngster in the off-ball linebackers room as Kentucky attempts to build for the future.