Interview: Louisiana 3-Star 2021 DE Byron Turner is the Boogie Man

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Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

A given nickname says a lot about a person, and especially for an athlete. If someone has earned the handle “Jet”, that guy is sure to leave burn marks on the surface when he hits top speed. Teammates always want a guy named “Lucky” around when possible, and they also want a guy with a moniker of “Boogie Man” because you sure do not want to face him. St. Augustine High School has a Boogie Man straight out of the bedtime horror stories meant to keep kids in line and fearful of wrong doing. Some 5A Louisiana teams have no choice but to face this fear when the Purple Knights are on the schedule.

Full season stats for the Purple Knights have not been released, but rest assured every conceivable stat meaningful for a defensive end was at a high-mark. Turner used his 6-3, 235-pound, frame to get after quarterbacks and running backs consistently ending plays before meeting the line of scrimmage. Given the New Orleans area standout’s size, one may think he was an edge rusher only, but Turner has a menacing nickname for a reason, he was out there punishing everyone. His status as a junior does not apply in the weight room with a reported bench press max above 300, 455 on squat, and a power clean at 275… and those numbers are a few months old.

Eleven different college programs are already all-in on Turner with offers dropped. One can expect those numbers to rise in the given months as next level staffs close out the seniors and start looking to the next group of play-makers.

In an RNG exclusive interview, I sat down with Turner getting an idea of how scary it is to line up against one of Louisiana’s best.

Interview

Byron, watching your game tape, you have earned the nickname “Boogie Man” for good reason. You play with power and intensity that is hard to match. What is your mindset when you take the field for a game?

“The mindset is going out to have fun, do my job, and do what I need to do to help my team get a win.”

Given how you throw running backs and especially quarterbacks around, I am guessing your numbers in the weight room are impressive. Do you remember your max numbers from before the season?

“My max on bench was 305, on squat it was 455, and my max on power clean was 275.”

All that shows on tape. Lining up in the Knights 3-4, what are your responsibilities at end within the scheme?

“My responsibility is to contain, not letting them get outside of me. On passing downs, my coach gives me a two-way go, I just have to get to the QB forcing him to pass the ball so my team can get the ball back.”

You get some one-on-one opportunities, but you also get chipped a lot. What are some of the ways opposing teams try to scheme against you?

“We noticed they run away from my side a lot. They also do a lot of quick passes.”

All players face a challenge on the field each season. What was a challenge you faced in 2019 on the field?

“My biggest challenge was probably my aggressiveness and my passion for the game. Sometimes that aggressiveness and passion put me in bad spots and led me to making dumb decisions on the field. When I start playing, I go blank and I can get carried away lot.”

How have you worked to get better at that so you can take your game to another level?

“My teammates help me contain it so I do not get too stupid. I still am playing aggressive, but I am not letting things set me off where I get out of my game.”

Of all the games played in 2019, which was your best game?

“I feel like my best game was the first time we played Rummel.”

Against Rummel, what did you do well to put it atop your list?

“In that game, I did not make a lot of plays, I had three sacks and maybe four tackles, but it was me doing my job. I was helping put my teammates in the right place and setting them up to make plays.”

Looking at the season as a whole, what were the areas you showed the most overall improvements?

“Everything felt fast for me, this was my first full season. Last year I missed the first five games, I could not play until the end. It was still fast this season, but as we got deeper into the season the game slowed down. It made it easier to keep up with everything for me. With technique, my coach taught me how to use my hands better, gave me a better stance coming off faster and lower, and I improved my pad level.”

College coaches are loving you. How many offers are you holding?

“Eleven.”

Turner’s Offer Sheet: Alabama-Birmingham, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Nicholls State, Tennessee, Toledo, Tulane, and Virginia

Which school are showing interest but have not offered yet?

“West Virginia, Louisville, Ole Miss, and LSU.”

During the season, did you visit any programs?

“Yes. I went to LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tulane, and I went to a Florida game.”

Being a Louisiana guy, tell me about the LSU visit.

“It was fun. I enjoyed it out there. The first time I went out there, I toured the school during the LSU camp over the summer. During the game visit, Coach Mickey Joseph (WR), Coach O (Ed Orgeron – head coach), and me had a quick conversation.”

Nice. And the State visit?

“It was fun. I talked to all the coaches, they made me feel comfortable.”

Last one I will ask about; how did Florida go?

“Same way. They made me feel at home there. I felt wanted and like I had a chance to play at both of the schools.”

Are there any upcoming visits planned?

“This week I have been invited to Mississippi State and Ole Miss on Thursday, and I have been invited to Florida and FSU on Saturday.”

Busy man. Last question. This offseason, what will you focus on with your workouts?

“I will focus on gaining speed, putting on some more muscle, and working on my technique.”

Byron, I appreciate your time today and wish you success with your offseason workouts.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: St. Augustine HS/Turner family; No. 90 Byron Turner in action