Clemson coach Dabo Swinney raised eyebrows in recruiting circles on Signing Day of 2016 when he announced little known safety Nolan Turner of Vestavia Hills, AL as part of the class. Turner was the son of one of Swinney’s former Alabama teammates, and to many it appeared he was just doing the family a favor. Well, Turner returned that favor many times over totaling 192 tackles and 7 interceptions in his career.
Swinney has gone back to the Turner family for another off the radar take, this time WR Cole Turner (6-2 180). The younger Turner made his official visit with the Tigers over the weekend and announced his commitment on Sunday. His only other offer was from Buffalo. But he’s athletic and fast, reportedly 4.42 in the forty, and that attracted strong attention from receivers coach Tyler Grisham.
“He kind of told me he sees me playing anywhere on the field,” Turner said earlier this month after getting his offer from Clemson. “Playing at multiple different places. He can move me around a little bit. I am more of a speed receiver and a deep threat. I can do anything and be whatever they need to be.”
Of course, Turner is very familiar with Clemson the program and Clemson the school. It didn’t take much to convince him this was the route he needed to run.
“It’s a great place,” he said. “The big thing for me is that it is a place that feels like home, and Clemson has that feel to it.”
During the 2021 season, Turner had 42 catches for 581 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He also recorded a punt return for a touchdown, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and had two passing touchdowns (on double passes). He’s the third receiver commitment/signee for the Tigers’ 2022 class.
