Warriors land 5-star corner

After taking the circuitous path, a former 5-star cornerback is on track to earning an associate’s degree in July and joining the Hawaii football team for the start of training camp on Aug. 1.

"I’ll be a Warrior," said Justin "J.T." Turner, who redshirted at Michigan in 2009.

This coming trimester, Turner is enrolled in three online courses through Rio Solado College, which is an affiliate of Scottsdale Community College.

Turner first made an oral commitment to UH after an official recruiting visit in December. He was set to sign a letter of intent in mid-December and enroll at UH for the 2012 spring semester. In a review of his transcripts, it was determined it would be better for Turner to amass needed credits at a junior college. Turner said his grade-point average was 2.8 during the recently completed trimester.

Turner has received interest from several schools. But Turner, who does not have a contractual obligation with UH, said he is fully committed to playing for the Warriors. He will have two years to play two seasons.

"I’m a man of my word," Turner said. "I feel if I give a team my word and my commitment, it’s being a man to live to my word."

He said he fulfilled a similar obligation when he made an oral commitment to Michigan when he was a junior at Massilon (Ohio) High. Scout.com gave Turner a 5-star rating, and Rivals.com named him as Ohio’s top prospect as a senior. Turner received offers from Ohio State, Florida State and Alabama, but he stuck to his commitment to Michigan.

After a delay in being declared eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse, Turner opted to redshirt in 2009. After the semester, he requested — and received — a release from Michigan. He enrolled at West Virginia, withdrew and then enrolled at Coffeyville College in Kansas. Turner played at Scottsdale in 2011.

Turner and UH cornerback Mike Edwards were teammates on an Ohio all-star team as seniors and classmates at Coffeyville. Turner said Edwards, UH head coach Norm Chow and UH assistant coaches Tony Tuioti and Daronte’ Jones were influential in his choosing the Warriors.

Turner, who is 6 feet 2 and 200 pounds, said he has a personal trainer. He said he has worked out intensively the past four months, focusing on weight training and speed drills.

"I’m doing what I can to get ready," Turner said.