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Turner Settling in at Wide Receiver |
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Written by Jack Carle - Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune
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Thursday, August 21 2008 |
.jpg "Image") Bowling Green WR Anthony Turner / Photo: Doug Sampson Turner is now a wide receiver for the Falcons and fair game for the defense.
“This has been the most fun camp I have been a part of since I’ve been here,” Turner said. “It’s definitely my first time ever running around a lot and I’m feeling the ups and downs of that. It was a physical camp.”
After seeing action in eight games at quarterback in 2005, Turner was BG’s main signal-caller in 2006, throwing for 1,596 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 480 yards and five scores.
Last season Tyler Sheehan moved into the starting quarterback role and Turner became a multi-threat player, lining up mostly at running back.
His efforts over the final month of the 2007 regular season, 67 carries for 346 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and five touchdowns, helped the Falcons win four straight games and secure a tie for the Mid-American East title and a berth in the GMAC Bowl.
Turner finished the season with a team-high 519 rushing yards with nine touchdowns. He had 22 receptions for 185 yards and a score and was 4-of-5 passing for 65 yards and three TDs. He’s one of a select few Division I players who accounted for touchdowns by running, passing and receiving.
Now with the emergence of Willie Geter at running back, Turner is a full-time receiver.
“We’re going to still rep Anthony at slot receiver,” BG head coach Gregg Brandon said. “Anthony Turner can go back to running back at any time. We can do that during a game. He could line up there and do what we need to do. The plan is to still have the best guys on the field.”
Turner likes the idea of playing receiver.
“It does feel good to have a position,” he said. “Just knowing that you’re wanted and just to be able to be out on the field and help the team win and doing whatever I can do to help the team win, it feels good.”
In an effort to learn more about playing slot receiver, Turner has turned to teammate Corey Partridge.
When healthy, Partridge is one of the top receivers in the MAC.
“He is definitely the best inside receiver that we have and learning from him makes the game a lot easier. He knows a lot of ins and outs about it,” Turner said. “He’s trying to teach me to get low. That’s easy for him to do. He’s telling me to get low and get skinny on certain routes and it’s rough.”
Partridge is 5-feet-11 and 189 pounds while Turner is 6-2, 227. And even though he enjoys playing receiver, Turner is ready to throw or run when needed.
“It’s great to know they have confidence in me, that I can get the job done at those certain positions,” Turner said. “I don’t think I’ll have a problem getting used to them at all.”
Turner added he would run the ball when needed, but “I would rather catch it.” As for throwing the ball; “Definitely, I’ll always go back to that, if they want me too.”
As for the Falcons this season, Turner sees the possibilities of great things.
“Our motto is: ‘Dare To Be Great in ’08’,” he said. “Every day we come out here and dare ourselves to do something different. “If we do it and execute it, we’ll be fine.”
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