CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Norman family’s small farm in Greenwood, South Carolina, had goats, cows and -- Josh Norman’s favorite -- a beautiful red-spotted Appaloosa horse named Strawberry. The animals were close by during epic two-on-two pasture football games with the Norman brothers. Josh, the second-youngest, lined up as a receiver by the dirt sidewalk. He would have a count to five Mississippis to get open.
“He could get pushed around during that five seconds,” said Marrio Norman, one of Josh's three older brothers. “We’d go at it all day. Josh learned ball skills that way.