Athlete Spotlight: Dylan Turner

Dylan Turner walked through the Greenbrier High School parking lot last week talking about his options.

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The Wolfpack senior had received an offer the day before to play football at Air Force. He expects to receive an offer from Navy soon. Georgia Tech was supposed to watch his highlight tape last Friday, and he's on numerous other schools' radars.

He paused before entering the school and said where he'd really like to go is Tennessee.

The process is still in the early stages. But it's clear Turner -- who plays on both sides of the ball -- has a chance to become only the second Wolfpack graduate to play Division I football.

"There's a lot of people watching," Wolfpack coach Brian Smith said. "We're kind of hanging on to wait and see what happens. I think he's going to entertain all possibilities."

Turner has been a starter since he was a freshman. He's averaging more than 10 tackles per game this season, despite the Wolfpack's bump to Class AAAAA.

His strongest position is probably as a defensive lineman, but some schools are looking at him as an offensive lineman and tight end.

Turner also is a track and field standout. He was the Region 3-AAAA champion in the shot put as a junior and finished second back in the spring at the competitive Taco Bell Classic.

But Turner will probably stick to football.

The Yellow Jackets, who run an option attack, are interested in Turner as an offensive lineman. Smith said Turner and teammate T.D. Davis might visit Atlanta this weekend to watch Georgia Tech play host to Florida State.

"Dylan is such a fast offensive lineman," Smith said. "He can do what they want him to do. He's probably strongest at defensive line. But he could do either one."

The Wolfpack have found their new region difficult, dropping their first five games to region opponents. But Turner has maintained the same motor he's shown throughout his high school career.

"I've been playing up to my expectations," Turner said. "We just haven't gotten the breaks."

Smith said Turner's production hadn't dropped at all, and that the competition the Wolfpack have faced has only helped him.

"What playing AAAAA ball has done is legitimized his ability to play," Smith said. "(College coaches) understand we're playing in one of the toughest regions."

Turner's reputation as a ball hawk often precedes him. He routinely faces double teams and modified offensive schemes to keep him away from the ball.

"They try to run the ball away from me as much as possible," Turner said. "I try to run to the ball, switch sides. I'm just trying to go full speed."

It's the chase that makes Turner favor staying at defensive line.

He's ready to start making official visits. When the time comes to make a decision, where a school wants to use him on the field might be the deciding factor.

"I'm going to decide where I feel is the best fit," Turner said. "Wherever I feel most at home."