St. Thomas Aquinas High School 2021 defensive end Dallas Turner named his top-five schools on Tuesday as well as set a date to make his commitment announcement.
The 6-foot-4 and 235 lbs rising senior out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida named Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma as his top schools and set a date a week from now on Wednesday, July 1st to announce his decision from among those five programs on CBS Sports HQ.
The Bulldogs offered Turner last November.
So what are the Dawgs’ chances here?
For one, Turner was able to take an unofficial visit to UGA back in January before visits and in-person recruiting was shut down due to the Coronavirus Pandemic in March. By all accounts, Georgia hit a homerun on his visit.
He also visited Alabama in February, and while Turner did name a top-five, this recruiting battle is most likely down to the Tide and the Dawgs. Here is what he had to say to 247Sports‘ Andrew Ivins on Tuesday.
“Alabama: ‘They are in it because at Alabama, you can reach your full potential and be the best version of yourself. That has always been a goal for me and I try to live to be the best version of myself, everyday. I want to be as great as I can be.’ “
“Georgia: ‘I have a real close relationship with their coaching staff. I have built a good relationship with [UGA’s Dan Lanning] and we talk about stuff outside of football. I feel very comfortable around that program.’ “
247Sports
And if one goes by the predictions available to the public on 247 and Rivals, this is an Alabama-Georgia recruiting battle with the Tide having the edge currently.
Whichever program lands Turner is going to be getting a very talented athlete and football player. He was named a Top Performer by 247Sports at the Under Armour All-America Camp Series in Miami, Florida back in early March before camps and other spring football activities were shutdown.
“…5. LB Dallas Turner – Turner is listed as a linebacker, but is probably going to be a 3-4 edge rusher or traditional defensive end in college depending on the scheme. He spent Sunday working with the d-line group and was able to use a variety of moves to get both inside and outside. Turner, who grew up playing AAU basketball, was without a doubt one of the top athletes at the camp. Alabama, Florida and Georgia are all battling for the Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas transfer...”
Top Performers: Under Armour Miami
He is rated a four-star weak-side defensive end prospect by 247Sports and ESPN. 247 has him as the No. 2 WDE, the No. 8 player from the state of Florida, and top-50 recruit overall in the country for the 2021 recruiting class. Rivals also rates Turner a four-star prospect but have him projected as an outside linebacker, No. 7 by position, and a top-20 player from the Sunshine State.
In 12 games for American Heritage this past season, Turner had 74 total tackles, 18 for a loss, and 15 quarterback sacks. Turner made the decision to transfer from American Heritage to St. Thomas Aquinas in January and complete his junior year and final senior year of high school with the Raiders.
You can watch highlights of Dallas Turner‘s junior season by clicking on the video below:
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