Notre Dame recruiting target Asa Turner recommits to Washington
Notre Dame never gave up on Asa Turner.
The Carlsbad (Calif.) High football standout, though, ultimately could not go against his first instinct, announcing his recommitment to the University of Washington on Thursday night.
Asa Turner has officially committed to the University of Washington, per his Instagram. pic.twitter.com/0wxNRHHRTa
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) February 1, 2019
Turner verbally pledged to the Huskies in July of 2018. Set to make it official on Dec. 19, the first day of the early signing period, Turner delayed his decision and made it known that he was also considering the Irish.
The ND staff visited the 6-foot-4, 201-pounder in the months following his initial commitment. Special teams coordinator Brian Polian and defensive coordinator Clark Lea had an in-home visit with Turner on Jan. 21. Their efforts were not enough to sell Turner, a high school safety, on playing linebacker.
Washington was one of few schools that saw Turner as a safety. The Irish would have transitioned him from rover to buck linebacker.
“That is why this is so hard,” Turner told ND Insider before the Jan. 5 All-American Bowl in San Antonio. “Everything is pretty much even for me. Both schools have great education, I am close with both coaching staffs, the weather at both places isn’t ideal for me, but it does not really matter.
"They are all even. But the one difference is the position, so that’s where I’ve been leaning on to make my decision."
Carlsbad played Turner at safety, and that’s the position he was playing when he snagged an interception in the Jan. 19 Polynesian Bowl. Turner’s first extensive action at linebacker came in the All-American Bowl. However, he rotated in a blowout and participated minimally throughout the week.
In an effort to flip Turner, the Irish provided him flexibility.
“They told me that I could come in, and if I am not happy at rover, like if I want to play safety — don’t pick Washington if I want to play safety,” Turner said. “They said that I can come there and play safety if I really, really want to.”
The Irish will, for now, look at three players to add to their 2019 roster. Concord (Calif.) De La Salle's Isaiah Foskey, a defensive end, is expected to sign with ND on Wednesday's National Signing Day.
Former Virginia Tech receiver Eric Kumah, a grad transfer, intends to take an official visit to South Bend on Feb. 23. Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston spent this week in Germany and checked in on Joseph Appiah Darkwa, a 2019 defensive tackle. Darkwa is expected to announce his verbal pledge on Friday.
ND's recent interest in Kumah and Darkwa suggested the Irish would not land Turner. The two emerged on ND's radar following Turner's Jan. 21 in-home visit. Adding Foskey would bump ND's tight scholarship count to 89 players.
The Irish do not have to satisfy the NCAA’s 85-scholarship limit until the first day of fall classes. Should the Irish need room, contingency plans are in place for 2019 linebackers JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau.
247Sports rates Turner as a four-star prospect, ranking him as the No. 10 athlete and No. 198 overall player. Rivals also tabs Turner as a four-star and slates him as the No. 22 athlete.
