Arizona landed its second commitment of the 2019 after three-star safety Jaxen Turner pledged to the Wildcats Sunday morning. Turner selected the Wildcats over Arizona State, Utah, Oregon State and Cal.
Turner posted a two-part video series leading up to his commitment.
P A R T 2 . pic.twitter.com/9ofAIZIgbI
— Jaxen Turner ♛ (@_JackJack3) October 21, 2018
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Turner is from Moreno Valley, California (Rancho Verde HS) and ranked as the No. 72 safety for 2019, per 247sports.com's national composite rankings.
Turner becomes Arizona's 13th commit of the 2019 class and the second safety, joining three-star defensive back Eddie Siamau.
Turner spoke to the Star earlier in August and said he grew up an Arizona fan after watching the basketball team, and called UA a "dream school."
“I really wasn’t on a football phase, but more of a basketball phase. I followed basketball more once I got into high school, I was like, ‘Oh, they’re good at football too,’ so that’s the complete dream school right there for me. That’s my dream school that I want to go to,” Turner said.
Cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin recruited Turner and offered him when he visited Rancho Verde High School.
"I like the way they coach and how they’re fired up. I met (cornerbacks) coach (Demetrice) Martin when he came down to my school to meet me for the first time, and that’s when I got my offer. He invited me to that camp in Redlands, and that’s when I met coach (Kevin Sumlin) — great guy. And that’s when I fell in love with the staff,” he said.
What are the Wildcats getting out of Turner as a player?
“They’re getting a smart on-the-field and off-the-field player. I’m very athletic and I bring aggressiveness," he said. "I know how to read a quarterback very well. I hadn’t been taught how to play defensive back until I got to high school. So basically I’ve been going off of all talent and then I got to high school and learned how to play (defensive back).
It just happened so fast and the next thing I know, I’m starting on varsity as a safety. I’m a quick learner and have a great memory and learn plays pretty fast."
