Posing with their coach on Signing Day are six Turner High School athletes headed for postsecondary football programs. They are, left to right, Sam Worthy, Andre McCallop, Drake Leger, Darion Griffin, Coach Jeremy Milne, Jeremy Jensen, and Jarek Smalley. (Photo from Turner school district)
Feb. 6 was national signing day for high school seniors across the country, the first day senior football players were eligible to commit to play in a postsecondary program for 2013‐2014.
Turner High School, like many other high schools across the country, held a ceremony to recognize its senior football players that were signing to play football next year, at the next level.
Turner High School head football coach Jeremy Milne organized the event highlighting the six Turner High seniors who were committing to participate in postsecondary programs, all to Kansas community colleges.
Jeremy Jensen, Andre McCallop, and Jarek Smalley will be moving on next fall to play at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan. Jensen is a 5-10, 170-pound defensive back. As a senior, he was selected by the Kaw Valley League coaches to the second team all‐league defensive team.
“Jeremy had a great year as a wide receiver for the Golden Bears in 2012, recording 16 receptions for 232 yards and two touchdowns," Milne said. "Defensively, he had 18 tackles, four interceptions for 40 yards, and a fumble recovery.”
McCallop also weighs in at 170 pounds and stands 5-10. He, too, will be going to the Garden City program as a defensive back. In his senior season, McCallop made 34 tackles, two interceptions for 45 yards, and recovered one fumble for a touchdown. Offensively, he recorded 26 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
The third member of the Garden City trio is Jarek Smalley, an offensive lineman. Smalley is 270 pounds and stands 6-4. In addition to participating in the football program at Garden City, he will also join the GCCC baseball program in the spring.
Hutchinson Community College will be the beneficiary of two Golden Bear athletes, Sam Worthy and Drake Leger. Worthy, a 6-2, 300-pound offensive lineman, was a three‐year starter for the Turner football program and was a unanimous first team all‐league selection by the Kaw Valley League coaches.
Leger, at 6-2, 190 pounds, will enter the Hutch Community College program as a linebacker. He, too, was selected to the Kaw Valley League First Team as a defensive lineman but will switch to linebacker at the next level. In the 2012 season, Leger was credited with 58 tackles, five sacks, one interception, three caused fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
The sixth member of the Golden Bears contingent moving to the community college level is Darion Griffin, a 5-7, 160-pound running back. Griffin will be attending Highland Community College next fall. Griffin was known for his inspirational attitude and work ethic. At the end of the 2012 season, he was selected by his teammates and coaches as the “Summer Superman” in recognition for his relentless work ethic in the weight room and practice habits throughout the season.
One of the measures of the quality of a high school education is the achievements of its graduates after they leave the high school environment. It is with a sense of pride and confidence that Turner High School sends these six accomplished athletes to the next level to continue to hone their special skills and to represent their high school in a positive manner, a spokesman said.