“I intentionally lived my own life,” Norman said. “(A) life that was marred by sin and blasphemy, I didn’t treat God as if he were God — I was really just worshipping myself.”

After suffering a severe injury against Alabama in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, Norman’s entire life at the time was taken away from him in the blink of an eye.

Following his injury, Norman was searching for the Lord and a friend told him about a Passion Conference in Colorado. He said at any other moment in his life he would not have listened to him. The conference was established in 1997 with the goal of spreading the Christian faith to college campuses around the world.

“I saw people my age really enjoy serving Christ,” Norman said. “I was praying that the Lord would make some things a little more clear for me and he did that.”

After last season, Norman declined offers to participate in NFL training camps, including the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.

Norman instead will be attending the Moody Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Mich., to obtain his Master of Divinity in the fall.

Daryl Rice, MSU alumnus and executive pastor at Oak Pointe Church in Novi, where Norman was baptized and has delivered sermons, spoke of Norman committing his life to Lord and his decision to join the seminary.

“The Lord needs athletes to be believers,” Rice said. “I am encouraged by his desire (to join the seminary) because he’s obviously being led by the Lord and the Lord will bless that when he commits his life to following Jesus.”

Norman said one of his long-term goals is to preach the truth in the city of Detroit.

“I want to see the same thing happen to the people in the city of Detroit — because there’s so much need there,” Norman said. “Real change isn’t going to come unless the hearts change, (and) the only thing that can change a heart of a man is the Gospel of Christ and that’s what I want to introduce.”