Turner Focused On Seizing His Opportunity Heading Into Fourth Year

SEATTLE – At one time, Asa Turner was sure he would wear gold in college. He wasn’t sure though if that would see him running out of the tunnel in South Bend or on Montlake.   

Turner, a former four-star recruit out of Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California, roughly a half an hour drive north from San Diego, Washington over Notre Dame back in 2019 one week before National Signing Day.  

One of four defensive backs signed by the Huskies in the class, along with Trent McDuffie, Cameron Williams and Kamren Fabiculanan, Turner has started four games in each of the past two seasons after making five starts as a freshman.  

Three days into spring practice co-defensive coordinator William Inge was asked who had caught his eye early in camp. 

“Asa,” Inge said, adding a light-hearted chuckle before explaining why the fourth-year junior was the first name to come to mind.  

“Because he is all over the place. Executing his job. Doing what he’s supposed to do.” 

Part of the reason Turner has been able to turn heads with the new coaching staff is due to the change in scheme.  

At the direction of Chuck Morrell, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, who will be the defensive play-caller for the Huskies under head coach Kalen DeBoer, his 4-2-5 alignment is built to allow a multitude of players to maximize their skillset.  

“But make no mistake about it, he has done the work during those 10 weeks of the offseason of putting him in a position to be able to be successful on practice day,” Inge added.  

For Turner, who has spent most of this spring next to sixth-year senior Alex Cook as the two safeties running with the first-team defense, part of the off-season was orientated around buying into the new staff.  

The rest came from his devotion to always doing more.  

“It was tough to do at first,” Turner said. “Once you buy in it’s just going all out every single day coming here. And just doing the extra trying to separate myself from other people. I feel like really was showing in my work and my numbers as well.” 

In his three seasons on Montlake the former four-star has spanned the gamut when it comes to his role on the team.  

Each has given him a different perspective. Through it all the only thing Turner is focused on is today and tomorrow, and what he can do to make both better than the day before.  

“I think kind of realizing and seeing that I had the opportunity in front of me,” he said. “I just have to take it and run with it. Especially this year again, I just have to take it and run with it. Also, just seeing some guys that were in my class, Trent McDuffie, going to the league right now. That could have really been me if I had taken advantage of my opportunity.  

“So, I’m going to take advantage of it this year and make that happen for myself.” 

What makes the switch unique is that the defense will be predicated on a four down linemen front, twice as many as UW ran last season, while still featuring a base five in the secondary.  

Morrell noted as much before the start of spring ball.  

“There’s no doubt this system is driven by the back-half,” Morrell said. “That’s something we obviously did at Fresno (State). Had a great player, first-team All-Conference player in Evan Williams, that led our team in tackles a year ago. I certainly expect guys like Alex Cook and Asa Turner – there’s a lot of guys back there that have some great experience that are going to be impact player and be around the ball as much as possible.” 

Throughout most of the 2021 season and the shortened Covid season the previous year UW used its safeties in a different manner than back in the early days of the Chris Petersen era.  

Both Budda Baker and Taylor Rapp, the two highest drafted Husky safeties under the tutelage of Jimmy Lake, weren’t just safeties who could make plays in coverage. Each had a unique ability to come up and play the run, and rush the quarterback at times, too.  

Turner hinted at a return to that style of play. Fittingly, he wore a black Death Row Records shirt with the sleeves cut off as he alluded to how this system is different than in previous years.  

“I think it places a lot more… I wouldn’t say stress, on the safeties. We’re definitely in the run fits and man coverage more. Definitely there to make more plays this season, for sure.”