Junior To Watch: Claude Turk McBride
Junior to Watch: Claude “Turk” McBride
School: Camden (N.J.) Woodrow Wilson HS
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Position: Defensive end/tight end
Size and speed: Turk is 6-foot-4, 220 pounds and runs a 4.55-second 40-yard dash.
Statistics: Last season Turk made 60 tackles and had 16 sacks to go with three fumble recoveries with two for touchdowns. He also blocked four field goals. On offense he had 24 catches for 486 yards and nine touchdowns.
Honors: Philadelphia Inquirer South Jersey Defensive Player of the Year, second team group III all-state, first team all-south New Jersey.
Favorite Schools: None at this time, although he has heard from more than 40 schools and already has offers from Rutgers, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Temple, Maryland, Iowa and Oregon.
Skinny: One of the top players in New Jersey, Turk is described by many coaches as a superb athlete that has the size and speed to dominate at the next level.
"We had a great season last year going 12-0 and being ranked third in the state. I'm just looking forward to playing well and having another great year."
Turk bench presses 325 pounds and is getting stronger and bigger everyday. His ability to run sideline to sideline makes him very dangerous and he’s always around the ball. His two fumble recoveries for touchdowns didn't come by accident, he makes things happen.
With so many schools wanting him now, will Turk verbal early?
"No, I want to take all of my visits,” he said “I'm not going to verbal early. It's a long process I know, but I just want to make sure of everything before I commit anywhere. I need to have a great season first."
Turk should be rated as one of the top defensive ends in the country this year. It's not to often that you find a high school player at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds running a 4.55 40-yard dash and playing defensive-end. Look for Turk to have more than 20 offers by the end of the summer.