Tigers might have found next Andre Branch in Goose Creek

by CU Athletic Communications - Wed May 25 23:29:09 GMT-04:00 2011

The next Andre Branch, Kevin Alexander or Ricky Sapp might be on the way in the person of Goose Creek’s Gerald Turner Gerald Turner

6-1, 230
Goose Creek, SC
View Full Profile , a 2013 prospect who picked up an offer from Clemson earlier this week.

Turner (6-1, 240) said he was in class Monday when Goose Creek athletic director Chuck Reedy dropped in with some good news.

“I know that Clemson’s defensive coordinator, Kevin Steele, came to the school and he talked to Coach Reedy,” Turner told TigerNet Wednesday night. “Coach Reedy came to my class, and he told me that Clemson wanted to offer me a scholarship. Coach [Tony] Elliott came down the first time, and he talked to me after a practice and told me that he would see me again. But instead, he sent Coach Steele down here.”

Clemson is the second offer for Turner – South Carolina offered his freshman year – and Turner expects more offers once his junior season begins.

Turner has played inside linebacker, but will move to defensive end this season before a return to linebacker for his senior year.

“They are moving me from inside linebacker to defensive end,” he said. “I know my senior year they are moving me back to linebacker. Right now, we have two seniors who are going to play linebacker, so they are going to put me somewhere where they know I will play. My freshman year, I played defensive end, and I did pretty well. So I will move to defensive end until the seniors leave.”

The sophomore has run a 4.5 second 40-yard dash, and said he feels like he can play either position, including playing a hybrid like Sapp, Alexander and Branch have played for the Tigers.

“I think I fit that hybrid position pretty well,” he said. “I want to go to a place where I can play linebacker or defensive end or even that hybrid. I can use my speed, and I love that it gets you in position to hit people and be physical.”

Turner said he doesn’t have a long list of criteria for his future school.

“I don’t want a school that is too far away, but I also don’t want one that is too close,” he said. “I just want to go to an environment that fits me and meets my standards. It doesn’t matter if it is an ACC school or an SEC school, just as long as it is a school that can help me get better in life.”