Davonta Turner of Kosciusko is the 11th and final member of the Star-Herald “Top 11 To Watch” to be unveiled. They were revealed in no particular order on a week-by-week basis and all six of the schools in the Star-Herald coverage area — Kosciusko, Ethel, McAdams, French Camp, Central Holmes and Winona Christian were represented. Previously announced as members the Top 11 were Antonio Harmon and Kobe Carter of Kosciusko, Dalton Wiggins, and John White of Winona Christian School, C.J. Johnson and Logan Campbell of French Camp Academy, Kyle Nabors of Ethel, Jace Dean of Central Holmes Christian School, and Jalen Perteet and Tromone Bailey of McAdams High School.
First-year Kosciusko football coach Casey Orr did not get to see much of senior Davonta Turner this summer. But it did not take long for Orr to realize that Turner was going to be the leader of his defense.
Turner missed the majority of summer workouts for the Whippets after he took a job in the spring at Tyson’s in Carthage, working from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. five days a week.
“I hate that we didn’t have him here every day this summer because of his leadership and his experience and what he brings to the table,” Orr said. “He is a kid that has a high motor during the football game. You watch him on film from last year and he just jumps off the page at you. He gives you effort on every snap. He is a kid that you are hard pressed to find a snap where he is not going full speed and that speaks volumes for that kid. He never takes a play off and he competes for us.”
Turner has held down the defensive end position for the Whippets the last two years, totaling 51 tackles as a junior and 57 as a sophomore. With a young group on both sides of the line, Turner will be looked upon to be a leader for the Whippets.
“He is a kid that is going to have to anchor that defensive line for us and that linemen group for us, whether it’s the defensive line or offensive line,” Orr said. “That’s a group that as a whole that is going to have to grow up and improve for us to be successful and he is one of those guys that is going to anchor that group for us. It’s going to be a big relief for us when we get him in here.”
While Orr would have liked to seen Turner in the weight room, he said he can appreciate what his senior had to do this summer.
“He’s worked 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day at the chicken plant; that’s a man’s schedule,” Orr said. “That is something that you can respect out of a kid that is willing to work like that and handle that schedule five days a week. He is a kid that will be a huge asset for us. We aren’t worried about where he is at. We talked two or three a times a week. It was just a situation where he needed to work this summer. He came back a little heavier than he was in the spring but when we ran sprints coming back, he was always in the top three of the lineman because that’s the kind of kid he is. He’s going to give you everything he has.”
While Turner will be a three-year starter on defense, Orr said he could see him playing in spots on offense this season.
“He is a defensive end for us and a kid that may in certain situation find his way on the offense line when it comes gut check time,” Orr said. “ I see him having a role on offense even if it is a limited role. It will be in a backup kind of role but I can see as the season progresses that we will need him to get more snaps.
“He is probably more of a fit at tackle and that’s where we are working at. He would make us tons more athletic at the tackle position if he were to step in there. I feel like he could be where he gets some spot work. I don’t think he will be a guy that you play both ways and wear down because he’s so valuable. I think it’s a deal if we would have had him in the ninth grade, he could have been a good lineman. He has played one way for the last three years so offensive doesn’t really excite him that much. We even talked about using him as an H-back, which might excite him a little bit more than playing tackle.”
While Turner comes in at 6-foot and 250 pounds, Orr said he had no doubt that Turner could play football at the next level if he chose to.
“He is a kid that I feel like will definitely have junior college opportunities,” Orr said. “I think he could play there if the right person sees him. Some of those coaches have the measurables they are looking for and might look past him because of his height. But he can play. I think his motor is his biggest asset. He needs to improve on the technique side, using his hands better and playing with better leverage. He just relies on God-given ability. I think if he could get more technical, he could become a really good football player.”
