National Signing Day: Bay Area notable 2024 signees, ceremonies — Herschel Turner says signing to Utah State like a movie
Hershel Turner said his recruiting process was "something out of a movie."
The fleet and strong 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back from Mt. Diablo (Concord, Calif.) picked Utah State over Washington State, Missouri, Utah and UNLV.
He also had offers to play at Yale and the Air Force.
Like all the would-be tacklers he ran by and more than 3,000 yards he rushed for, the possibilities and considerations in Turner's mind were endless. Where might he see the most playing time? What's the best football school? What has the best academics? Who had the most secure coaching staff.
Ultimately, Utah State, which has gone 6-7 each of the last two seasons after an 11-3 campaign in 2021, "checked all the boxes," Turner said.
"I'm most excited about being in a family atmosphere," he said.
Turner is looking for a stable college program. He played three season as a game-breaking receiver and running back at Freedom of Oakley before breaking the bank at Mt. Diablo in 2023.
He broke a North Coast Section regular-season rushing record with 2,957 yards to go along with 42 touchdowns. He also had 67 tackles from his linebacker spot with five fumble recovers and six caused fumbles.
Turner broke the school record for rushing yards in a game to start the season with 377 yards and 16 carries (23.6 average) and six touchdowns in a 39-28 win over Deer Valley. He broke his own record to close the regular season with 413 yards on 23 carries and five touchdowns in a 55-40 win over Berean Christian.
He finished the season with 177 carries for 3,027 yards (17.1 per carry) and 42 touchdowns. His rushing total was ninth best in the nation and his yards per carry for players with more than 150 carries was No. 1.
At first, the transition to a new school was tough, but ultimately he said "my senior season the perfection senior season. ... Better than anyone could wish for."
He thanked God and his linemen, "because none of it would have been possible without them."
More Bay Area news and nuggets:
- The highly regarded Fremont-Oakland duo of edge rusher Naki Tuakoi and linebacker Sefo Akuila signed to BYU after each decommitting from Pac-12 schools. Tuakoi, ranked the No. 56 recruit in California, informed Stanford on Oct. 23 he was re-opening his recruitment. Akuila committed to Arizona on Sept. 6 but when its staff left for Washington, Tuakoi joined his former prep teammate at BYU.
From their high school coach Majerle Taugavau:
