All-American Tuerk ready for top competition
Max Tuerk knows he's going to have fun during the week in San Antonio for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but the Santa Margarita (Calif.) High offensive tackle is also going to compete and he's looking forward to testing himself against top-notch defensive linemen.
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Tuerk, a fierce, tough 6-foot-6, 294-pound prospect, has dominated in Southern California for years and now he's looking to prove himself on the national level - and there's no better place than playing in the Army game.
"It's going to be awesome," Tuerk said. "The competition is going to be great and I love competing so it's going to be fun.
"I know when I get up there it will be fun to hang out with all the guys but I also have to focus on the game. It's going to be really important and it's going to be on TV so it's big but it's going to be fun, too."
Tuerk, a four-star prospect by Rivals.com, was presented with his Army game jersey during a presentation at his high school on Tuesday.
It was a dream come true for Tuerk, who said that without the help of some tremendous coaches at Santa Margarita and his own hard work something like this would have never been possible.
"It's such a big deal," Tuerk said. "Not many people are selected to play in this game so it's a real honor to be one of them. It means so much to play in the Army game because they fight for freedom every day so it's a real honor.
"For myself it just means so much. I've had so much help the last couple years with my coaches and I've worked really hard so this is what it all leads up to."
As far as recruiting, there does not seem to be much news with Tuerk, who committed to USC in May and has not looked back. He said there is no consideration to look at other programs or take other visits.
Rivals.com rates Tuerk No. 15 at offensive tackle, a position that is loaded with talent in the West, No. 122 in the 2012 class and No. 17 in the California state rankings.
Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Cal, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA and many other prorgrams offered Tuerk but playing for the Trojans was his dream and once they offered he committed.
As Tuerk considers all his options, he said there really was only one choice.
"It's a huge weight off my shoulders," Tuerk said. "I get to focus on my season right now so that was great. That was the school I always wanted to go to. I feel most comfortable there and every time I get on campus I just feel like that's the place for me. I just love it there."
Before Tuerk turns his focus to preparing for the Army game there is still some unfinished business in his senior season.
Santa Margarita plays La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat in the first round of the playoffs this weekend. The team's only losses this season came to traditional powerhouses Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei and Anaheim (Calif.) Servite.
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