O.J. Turner provides experience for Indians' young linebackers

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Where have the past few years gone? That's what O.J. Turner wonders as he enters his senior football season at Southeast Missouri State University.

"Man, it seems like it was just yesterday when I was starting out," said Turner as he flashed his trademark grin. "It's hard to believe I'm a senior. The four years have gone by so fast."

Turner, a former Central High School standout, is indeed about to enter his senior season as an outside linebacker for the Indians. And he is without question the leader of Southeast's inexperienced but apparently talented linebacker group.

"We lost some good linebackers, but I feel like we've got some good ones coming back," Turner said. "I think we're going to have a solid unit."

Turner, a rock-solid 6-foot, 230-pounder, led Southeast in tackles last season with 95, including six for loss, and he also intercepted two passes. The Indians graduated their other three linebackers who played the most in 2003, and their leading tackler among returning linebackers had just 22 stops a year ago.

"O.J. is the leader of that group, no question about it," Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "But even though we lost some really good players at linebacker, I feel good about the position. And we expect O.J. to have another really good year. He's been an excellent player for us."

Turner certainly has no complaints about his career -- one that began with plenty of uncertainty. As a wide-eyed freshman, he entered the season figuring he might redshirt in order to learn more about not only college football but college life in general.

But Southeast needed help at linebacker and Turner wound up moving into the starting lineup midway through the season, finishing with 42 tackles.

"I didn't expect to play much and I thought I might redshirt," Turner recalled of that rookie campaign. He added with a laugh, "Then the coaches were like, 'O.J., go in.'

"It might have been nice to redshirt because I would have had an extra year to get bigger and stronger, but I was able to get all that experience, so it works both ways. I'm glad I played."

As a full-time starter during his sophomore season in 2002 -- when the Indians had their breakthrough 8-4 record for the program's best mark since 1969 -- Turner compiled 68 tackles, including six for loss. That led to his 95-tackle performance last year, giving him 205 career tackles along with three interceptions.

"Coming out of high school, I didn't think I'd have this type of career," Turner said. "I feel like I've gotten better every year, so I'm pretty happy."

Turner is also pleased that, as one of several key local products playing for the Indians, he has been able to help transform his former struggling hometown program into one that appears to be on solid ground.

"It's a good feeling, especially since I played on this same field in high school," said Turner, referring to Houck Stadium. "The program has come a long way since me and some of the other seniors got here."

Of course, the transformation is not yet complete because the Indians are still chasing their first Ohio Valley Conference championship after coming so close last year, when a win over Jacksonville State in the regular-season finale would have given them a share of the title and sent them to the program's first playoff berth. But Southeast lost 22-17.

"That's what we're all shooting for, the OVC championship, and I think this is the team to do it," Turner said.

On an individual level, Turner -- a health management major and a Southeast Scholar Athlete who wants to end up with a career in fitness, perhaps in the area of personal training -- would like to top his tackles total from last season and help the Indians' defense continue to improve.

"As a defense, we have several goals, a lot of it focused on the conference, and I have some personal goals, like more tackles," Turner said.

Despite Turner's strong season last year, he received no all-OVC mention, and he was not listed on the preseason all-conference group this year. Turner wouldn't mind the accolades, but it's not what he's all about.

"It kind of bothers you a little bit, but it's not my deal," he said. "I'll take the OVC championship over making all-OVC any time."