Moran Norris life and biography

A tough, hard-nosed fullback, Moran Norris is utilized as a blocker, receiver and occasional ball carrier. During the 2009 season, Norris played an essential role in helping RB Frank Gore reach a franchise record with his 4th consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. He returned to the team in 2009 after serving as the 49ers starting fullback from 2006-07, where he helped blocked for Gore en route to a Pro Bowl season with an NFC-leading and team-record 1,695 rus. yds. in 2006.

TRANSACTIONS

Originally a 4th-round (115th pick overall) draft choice by NO in 2001… Waived by NO on 9/17/02…Claimed off waivers by Hou. from NO on 9/18/02…Waived by Hou. on 5/4/06…Signed by SF as a free agent on 5/23/06...Waived by SF on 8/31/08...Signed by Det. on 10/9/08...Waived by Det. on 10/12/08...Signed by Det. on 10/13/08...Signed as an unrestricted free agent by SF on 3/2/09.

•When he’s not paving the way for Frank Gore to run, Moran Norris can be found working within his community. In 2005, Moran founded the Moran Norris Foundation, seeking to help Houston-area students become champi­ons in athletics, character and education. In San Francisco, Moran “adopted” a group of students in the Brother2Brother/Sister2Sister Mentoring Program as part of his Foundation’s initiatives. Moran has hosted the youngsters at 49ers games, provided them with financial support and taught them the im­portance of life skills, education, goal setting, hard work and good character. “When I was growing up I remember this football player came, and he used to come and just talk to the kids, and I still remember that day. I felt if I ever had a chance to go back like that, I would do the same thing.”

AWARDS & HONORS

2009: Selected to USA Football/NFLPA “All-Fundamentals” Team, which hon­ors the NFL’s most fundamentally-sound players who also commit themselves to service in their communities.

2009 (San Francisco):
•Set career highs in rushing atts. (14) and rushing yds. (41), while recording a career-high 7 recepts.
•Rushed for a career-high 16 yds. vs. Sea. (9/20), while also tying his ca­reer-high of 3 recepts. Led the way for Gore, helping him set career-long runs twice in the same day on the way to a 207-yd. rushing performance.
•Registered a career-high 3 rushing atts., including converting two 3rd-n- 1s, at Ind. (11/1).
•Scored his first career rushing TD and tied his career high with 3 carries at StL (1/3).

2008 (Detroit):
•Saw action in 11 games with 8 starts for Lions after being signed on 10/9.

2007 (San Francisco):
•At NYG (10/21), blocked a punt that went out of the back of the endzone in 3rd qtr., resulting in a safety.

2006 (San Francisco):
•Finished season with a career-high 2 TD recepts. Inactive for first 2 games of season when coaching staff elected to use Chris Hetherington at fullback.
•Played a pivotal role as lead blocker for RB Frank Gore, who behind Norris’ crushing blocks, went on to set a franchise record for rushing yds. and lead NFC with 1,695 yds.
•Made first start of the season at fullback vs. SD (10/15) and caught a 2-yd. TD recept., the second of his career.
•Posted a career-long 32-yd. TD recept. in season finale 26-23 win at Den. (12/31).

2005 (Houston):
•Paved the way for a Texans ground attack that gained 1,816 yds. Tallied 12 tackles and 1 FF on special teams, and caught his 1 pass for a 4-yd. TD at Cin. (10/2).

2004 (Houston):
•Played in 12 games with 4 starts and helped RB Dominic Davis set team records with 1,188 rushing yds. and 13 rushing TDs.

2003 (Houston):
•Played in all 16 games with 9 starts, finishing season with 7 catches for 40 yds. and 8 special teams tackles.
•Made first NFL start at fullback at NO (9/14).
•Caught first career pass in win vs. Jac. (9/28), finishing with 3 recepts. for 16 yds.

2002 (New Orleans/Houston):
•Played in 13 games, mainly on special teams, recording 6 special teams stops.

2001 (New Orleans):
•Played in 5 games for New Orleans, primarily on special teams, and recorded 2 special teams tackles.

COLLEGE

•Rushed for 864 career yds. on 199 carries (4.3 avg.) with 10 TDs, adding 17 recepts. for 87 yds. with 1 score. Rushed for 313 yds. and 2 TDs as a senior, earning third-team All-Big 12 honors. Rushed for career-high 537 yds. and 8 scores as a junior, splitting time between fullback and tailback. Arrived in Lawrence as a tight end, but moved to the backfield.

PERSONAL

•All-city and all-district selection as a senior at James Madison (Houston, TX) HS, where he caught 25 passes for 410 yds. as a tight end and also played linebacker.
•Older brother, Gaston, lettered 4 seasons as a running back at Iowa State.
•Born Torrance Moran Norris (6/16/78) in Houston, TX. He and wife, Tamara, live in Houston with daughter, London.
•Was a member of the Kansas Jayhawks Scholar List. Graduated with dual degrees in communications and crime and delinquency.

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