Will Friday be breakout game for sleeper
Linebacker Terrell Turner (6-3, 225, 4.7) from Los Angeles (Calif.) Crenshaw is somebody to keep your eye on as the season progresses. There are plenty of D-I schools that are.
Turner definitely passes the look test. As matter of fact if Central Casting were looking to cast a guy to play the role of a linebacker on the high school level, Turner would be perfect casting.
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The good news is Turner can also play the game of football.
This coming week's game will be a huge one for Turner as he and his Crenshaw teammates hook up with one of Southern California's best rushing teams in Compton (Calif.) Dominguez.
Turner is somewhat of an unknown at linebacker because he has played defensive line most of his life.
Crenshaw is one of those teams who finds places for their best athletes to play and in midseason they moved him from his familiar defensive end spot to linebacker.
Truth be told, Turner has only played seven games at linebacker. Five last season for a team that won the Los Angeles City Section Championship and two games this season for the 1-1 Cougars.
Everyone you talk to with any knowledge of Turner unanimously agree that he has tremendous upside. He can run, has good size and he great hands. He also great field awareness, meaning he can play the run and the pass with equal effectiveness.
Another thing to like about Turner is his toughness. The only think he lacks as a linebacker is experience.
The sky is the limit for Turner once he gets the reps at linebacker, he's could be off the charts. Some think by the end of year he could be one of the best linebacker prospects in Southern California.
Turner has all the tools to be highly successful on the D-I level.
"Terrell is a great person on and off the field," Crenshaw defensive coordinator Dan Robinson said. "He's a team leader."
"Terrell plays down field and he's a great tackler," Robinson said. "Once he gets his hands on a ball carrier, he's going down."
Turner was a second-team all-city and second-team all-league performer as a junior after racking up 87 tackles, five sacks and one interception.
It is important to remember Turner played over half the season as a defensive end before playing the last five games as a linebacker.
Washington is recruiting him the hardest right now with Cal and UCLA following suit.
A big game this Friday could change Turner's status overnight.