Brett Norfleet struggled with injuries throughout his sophomore season. Now he's ready to see what he can do in a year he's fully healthy.
Injuries plagued the season of the tight end Mizzou fans were excited to see the development of in 2024. But now, Brett Norfleetis healthy and back to himself. And he’s ready to be a big part of the Tiger offense.
“It’s been weird, because last year’s camp, I had to miss due to the foot deal that I had and then I started the year off with a shoulder injury,” Norfleet said. “So I feel like, for me, this year is just kind of gaining confidence and then getting back to myself.”
As he keeps gaining confidence, Norfleet is trying to get back to the athleticism and pass-catching ability that highlighted his freshman season.
Shoulder injury
But as he enters his third year, Norfleet said there’s a pretty specific area he’s improved on from 2024.
“Well my shoulder feels good, so that’s probably where I’ve grown the most,” Norfleet said with a laugh.
That shoulder hampered Norfleet throughout the 2024 season, limiting him to 26 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Which was still the best production a Tiger tight end has had since Eliah Drinkwitz took the helm of the program.
“Last year? So the first, my first catch of last year, d— shame,” Norfleet said. “… I was in the training room almost every day just trying to stay on the field. And did I feel 100 percent there? No, not at all.”
Norfleet battled the injury throughout the year. Taking the injury from his first catch of the season through a surgery that held him out of the Music City Bowl.
But the shoulder issue led to an interesting development in Norfleet’s game, one that made him stand out from most players in college football.
He started to hurdle as many defenders as possible.
“You know, I think that just kind of happened because every time I caught the ball, I was always worried that I was going to hit (my shoulder),” Norfleet said. “And, you know, the thing that I had, it was very easy to be re-injured. So I think at some point I just kind of thought, ‘Hey, I’m just going to jump over every single guy.’ And, you know, if my feet get swept out from under me, just don’t land on my neck.”
Healthy and moving forward
Norfleet got his shoulder surgically repaired after the Tigers beat Arkansas to finish the regular season and has taken the offseason making sure he gets as healthy as he can. He wore a non-contact jersey throughout spring camp, but is back to full participation throughout fall camp.
“Right now, I feel great. I am cleared. I feel stronger,” Norfleet said. “… we had two scrimmages, and there’s no better place to test it out there again, against your own team, and it’s held up so far. So it feels good.”
Norfleet enters his junior season with new strategies on how to stay healthy. There are big expectations on his ability once again. And the 6-foot-6, 263-pound pass catcher knows the Tigers’ new quarterback will need him on the field as much as possible.
“Oh, yeah, it’s kind of learning, you know, not to always lower my shoulder,” Norfleet said. “Maybe use my off hand as a stiff arm, maybe stick a foot in the ground.”
And those new strategies have helped Norfleet as he moves into an important season in his development. There is room to grow and room to work toward an NFL dream. But for now, Norfleet is continuing to work through fall camp and just making sure he is the player he knows he can be in 2025.
“I’m super happy with where I am,” Norfleet said. “I do got to take some more steps. But, yeah, I’m just real comfortable with where I’m at.”
Click here to discuss this story in the story thread.
Or click here to discuss fall camp as a whole in our Fall Camp Mega Thread.
Category: General Sports
