Post-season honors pour in for Jo Norris III, 'Berg football

WACO, Texas -- For the sixth time in the Scott Donaldson era, the Heidelberg  Football team has landed a player on the prestigious America Football Coaches Association All-America Team. Joseph Norris III of Lorain, Ohio, was a Second-Team honoree, as announced by the AFCA on Tuesday.

The All-America honor was the first for Jo’s career. In his final season, Jo limited opponents’ receivers to a 25% completion percentage (7-for-28) when serving as the primary defender. The two-time team captain added an interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to go along with seven breakups.  

He was also the recipient of the Ohio Athletic Conference's Lee Tressel Award, given to the top defensive back in the Ohio Athletic Conference, becoming the third 'Berg player to earn the honor.  

Also a force on special teams, Jo returned a punt for a touchdown in Heidelberg's Homecoming win over Muskingum.  

Zach Blackiston and Branden Steckel were the last two 'Berg players to receive AFCA All-America accolades, coming in 2022. Jo is the eighth player since 2016 to pick up the honor.

More OAC honors

In addition to All America honors, Jo was named the recipient of the Lee Tressel Award, given to the OAC’s top defensive back – the third player in program history to win this award.

Now a three-time All-OAC honoree, Jo joins Adam Smith (1994) and Griffin Pendry (2021) as Tressel Award recipients in program history.

The ’Berg Football team landed six players on the All-Ohio Athletic Conference list, as released by the league on Tuesday. In total, HU had three first-team selections, one second-team honoree, and two honorable mentions.

2023 All-American Keyshawn Cunningham was a first-team selection for the second straight campaign. The Florida native had 34 tackles, including two for loss, and was credited with four breakups.  

Solomon Sandoval was the first-team special teams honoree, making a significant impact on kickoffs and punts.

Easton St. Clair was a second-team selection at linebacker, becoming just the ninth player in program history to be a four-time All-OAC selection. St. Clair was credited with 49 tackles, including eight for loss. He tied for the team lead with three sacks, adding an interception, a breakup and three quarterback hurries.  

Linebacker Trey Farris was an honorable mention after leading the team with 61 total tackles. Along with eight TFLs, Farris had a breakup, two hurries and a forced fumble and recovery.  

Tailback Drew Miller was an honorable mention, becoming the third person to receive All-OAC honors in football and wrestling since 2013. Miller had 193 carries for 716 yards, scoring seven touchdowns.