Catching Up With Jamel Turner

While many of you are upset over the recent events that have occurred regarding OSU recruit Jamel Turner, we had a chance to sit down with him just two days before the shooting incident. While it is easy to put Turner in the "thug" category, if you actually speak to him you can tell he does not want to live that life and really can use the support system that exists at Ohio State to create a better life for himself. It's hard to defend that statement with the recent details that have emerged from this weekend's shooting incident, but if you read our interview with Turner, you can perhaps see some reason to root for this kid to be a success. His fate at Ohio State is in the hands of Jim Tressel now and whether he will ever be a Buckeye is yet to be determined, but either way, the staff here at 11W is rooting for Jamel Turner to turn his life around no matter what the future holds for him. Now that you've signed your Letter of Intent, how does it feel to officially be a Buckeye? It’s a dream come true, but its not the end of the road. What is the plan of action now to get you to OSU on time? Well we've calculated some things that have to go on, and there’s no guarantee I’ll be there on time. The most important thing right now is getting my diploma. Fighting through adversity usually makes any young man stronger in the end (like Eddie George, Cris Carter, etc.). What have you learned from your situation and how do you plan to move forward in the future with those lessons? I mean sometimes you have to make mistakes to learn and that’s just life. I feel that I've learned more than most young men and, that in a way, it puts me at an advantage over others. Getting to the on-field stuff, what do you feel your strengths are as a player? What do you feel you need to work on before you get to Columbus? Well I think of myself as a smart and fast player. I think I need to work on the change to college football more than anything. I mean I’m sure it’s going to be tough, but only the strong survive. You have great potential at either DE or LB. What position will you play at OSU? I hope to play linebacker but even if Tressel says play center than believe I’m going to play that position with all of my heart. You and Carlos Hyde both played at Fork Union this fall. What kind of relationship do you two have and how will that help you at OSU? Carlos and I are real good friends and he’s a really good person and player, but in order to have success on the field, I think you have to have a whole team connection, or at least when its game time. Do you know what you will study at OSU yet? Who will you room with? I plan on studying in the arts area, and I’m not sure who I’m rooming with yet. What current/former NFL player can your skill set be compared to? What current/former college player do your skills compare to? NFL players are elite. I feel if you need a role model to teach you how to function then you’ve failed already. If you could tell Buckeye Nation one thing, what would it be? Well don’t count me out, but count on me because I’m hungry and I want it. I won’t fail the Buckeye Nation.

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Comments

Charlie on 19 Apr 2010 - 2:40pm #

his response to comparing your skills to another player: "NFL players are elite. I feel if you need a role model to teach you how to function then you’ve failed already." ummm.... what?!??!?!

DarthSweaterVest on 19 Apr 2010 - 2:48pm #

Maybe he thought the 2nd part asked who do you look up to or try to pattern yourself after?

southbaybuckeye on 19 Apr 2010 - 2:58pm #

yeah, doesn't make complete sense, but i think i get what he's saying.

RBuck on 19 Apr 2010 - 3:16pm #

TOSU doesn't need the problems this kid will bring with him. The weed's one thing but the guns open up a whole new bag of worms. I think he's another Mo C......just ahead of the time frame. Dump him now and open up a scholly offer.

Alex on 19 Apr 2010 - 3:23pm #

Yeah it's a really tough situation. I want to root for this kid, but I don't think after the guns we can take the chance...It's tough because he is a 17 or 18 year old kid growing up in not ideal environments/situations, but with your future bright at OSU you need to mature quickly and find a way to put yourself in a good situation...he did that at Fork Union but something went awry there and now he's back hanging with his old crew that seems to be bad news...I think Jamel wants to mature and that OSU would be the best place for him to do that, but I don't think he'll get a chance to do so

Charlie on 19 Apr 2010 - 3:38pm #

i agree. i do want to root for him but if you're driving around w/ 2 bags of marijuana and hand guns then there is much bigger issues at stake than just "having a tough upbringing." i wish tOSU could help him out but if you can't make simple, mature decisions on your own then i'm not sure you're ready to enter into this institution.

RBuck on 19 Apr 2010 - 3:49pm #

I really hope he doesn't get the chance. Can you even imagine the national perception if he came on now with all this baggage. The media and haters still bring up Mo C 7 or 8 years later.

southbaybuckeye on 19 Apr 2010 - 4:16pm #

at this point he sounds like a great fit at Florida

Brian on 19 Apr 2010 - 4:26pm #

You know, he actually sounds like he gets it. Then a couple days later hs's getting shot, and I'm sure it's not because he's an innocent bystander. I don't think OSU will take the chance on him, but I would like to see him land somewhere and get his life in order.

Brian on 19 Apr 2010 - 4:26pm #

I was thinking Florida or Bama will take him lol.

Nik on 19 Apr 2010 - 4:37pm #

i don't know, a lot of those answers sounded very coached. Notice how he didn't answer like any of the questions

Poe McKnoe on 19 Apr 2010 - 5:08pm #

Agreed. Imagine the headline: "Ohio State Defensive End Shot; Guns and Drugs Found in Car".

Poe McKnoe on 19 Apr 2010 - 5:11pm #

I'm with you on this one, Alex. He's on strike three or four or five. Tress knows what's going on here so he must be DAMN good at football.

JakeBuckeye on 19 Apr 2010 - 5:12pm #

Congrats on the espn.go.com shout out guys.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten...

Jason on 19 Apr 2010 - 5:37pm #

Thanks!

Charlie on 19 Apr 2010 - 5:45pm #

haha i agree. i'm starting to wonder if 11W confused tressel's presser w/ this kid's interview responses...

Rini on 19 Apr 2010 - 6:04pm #

Don't lose sight of the fact that he's still just a kid...

...and that he's already learning from the best on answering questions, but not saying a whole lot...

Bill on 19 Apr 2010 - 7:54pm #

Maybe if he wore his pants around his waist this would have never of happened.

southbaybuckeye on 19 Apr 2010 - 8:28pm #

those aren't pants, they're JORTS.

Matt on 19 Apr 2010 - 8:38pm #

Get off my lawn!

southbaybuckeye on 19 Apr 2010 - 8:40pm #

+eleventy billion

TlLB on 19 Apr 2010 - 10:27pm #

Dude was with a 32 year old con. I don't think we can take the chance with him. It's pretty clear that even with multiple chances he is not willing to change his ways.

Buckeyeholicwompa on 19 Apr 2010 - 11:14pm #

He shot his wad

Powers on 20 Apr 2010 - 1:50am #

Koufus sighting in Denver

Bish on 20 Apr 2010 - 10:03am #

Yeah, as much as I hate ESPN sometimes it was good to see you guys get some love

Maurice Claret on 20 Apr 2010 - 1:14pm #

Man dont be following in my footsteps. there is only one maurice claret. jamel turner aint me

Nik on 20 Apr 2010 - 1:50pm #

lulz, can't even spell your own name right

José on 20 Apr 2010 - 8:43pm #

Completely agree - I feel like (and no offense to young Mr. Turner) there are a lot of better, more skilled athletes than himself who have failed to reach the NFL. If there is anything this young man needs it is a role model, even if it isn't someone he idolizes, even if it someone's work ethic. I don't even play football anymore and still can say hey, that Manning guy up in Indy, man that's a work ethic you can idolize and see it will take you places.

Andrew on 22 Jun 2010 - 3:31pm #

This guy is definitely a thug. Today (6/19/10) this guy was just involved in another shooting. That coupled with his grammer in some of the responses above leads me to believe that OSU is completely bonkers if yall still want this kid. No wonder you haven't won a national championship in almost a decade. GO SEC

Andrew on 22 Jun 2010 - 3:34pm #

on a second note, it's sad to think that some kid who really wants to go to OSU for the education they can offer wont get in because his spot is going to Mr. Turner who clearly doesn't deserve to be at a university of Ohio State's calliber. Not to mention he "plans on studying in the art area". Not sure how much studying this kid plans on doing, but majoring in art....LOL

is it Saturday yet? on 22 Jun 2010 - 3:41pm #

Right because everyone knows the SEC schools recruit strong character kids and they never get into trouble.

is it Saturday yet? on 22 Jun 2010 - 3:45pm #

....and why give a kid a chance to get out of a really bad situation in a bad area by offering him an education.

And I work in the Graphic Arts field and consider myself to be pretty succsessful. I also love what I'm doing and have a passion for it. But you are right, who needs to study in the arts?

And don't call out grammar when you can't even spell the word and then use "yall."