Florida Football: Familiar Foes Await Asa Turner

Asa Turner has faced Miami's Cam Ward and Quinn Ewers from Texas in previous seasons.

By Loren Meadows GatorBaitMedia.com, Football Analyst

Florida safety Asa Turner spent the previous five seasons in Seattle with the Washington Huskies where he was able to start 28 games during his time with the Pac-12 stalwart. While at Washington he also stared down some of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks.

In the last five years Turner and the Huskies faced off against such prominent household names such as 2024 top NFL draft pick Caleb Williams, 2023 Heisman Winner Jayden Daniels, Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy. This season there will be two more quarterbacks the Gators will face that Turner will definitely have intel on.

Miami’s Cam Ward spent two seasons at Washington State after two seasons at Incarnate Word in Texas. In the 2022 Apple Cup, Washington and Turner were able to stifle Ward and the Cougars 51-33 while totaling 5 tackles and forcing Ward into a pedestrian 56.7 QBR. Turner missed last season's Apple Cup due to injury but the Huskies managed to take care of Ward again, forcing him into two interceptions winning 24-21.

While Turner missed the game, it is certain that he watched a ton of film on Ward and will certainly have a list of tendencies to pass on to his teammates and coaching staff to create problems for Ward. 

Florida safety Asa Turner (UAA photo)

Turner did return for the College Football Playoff Semifinal as the Huskies faced the Texas Longhorns and quarterback Quinn Ewers. Turner had one of his best games of the season totaling five tackles and a fumble recovery. Ewers would put up decent numbers but struggled early and managed a QBR of 73.0 with only one touchdown.

This would be the second time that Turner would face Ewers as they faced off the previous year in the Alamo Bowl where Washington again bested Texas 27-20 with Turner managing five tackles while Ewers would tally a 68.9 QBR and just one touchdown through the air. 

Billy Napier has stated that Asa Turner is extremely diligent in his preparation and noted that he has come the Heavener Center on many occasions and “there’s Asa.” Turner brings a ton of experience to a secondary in need of a reboot and his experience combined with familiarity with defensive backs coach Will Harris gives the Gators someone who is more than familiar with two of the Gators most talented foes.

Florida struggled last season against some of the better quarterbacks on their schedule but Turner’s 3-0 record as a starter against Ward and Ewers is a bonus the Gator secondary will be happy to lean on.

Miami and Ward will be up first for the Gators on Aug. 31 and Turner and the rest of the Gator defense will be chomping at the bit to wash the stench off of last season’s play on the road early. Turner seems to definitely be a note taker and will be certain to share his thoughts on Ward and Ewers with the rest of the class.