Turner’s time will come

Dakota Turner can’t bring himself to watch a replay.

The Mililani graduate was playing his first game in three years at Aloha Stadium when the San Diego State defensive lineman took a shot to his knee blocking on a kickoff against Hawaii in October.

He knew something was wrong, but didn’t let on he was hurt until he trotted off the field and sat down on the bench.

Turner suffered a sprained MCL and tore his ACL on the play, ending a season that had promising hopes for the 6-foot-3, 255-pound sophomore who had become the first defensive lineman off the bench for the Aztecs.

“I was finally getting in the groove and fully understanding the defense and being that fourth man in there,” Turner said. “Right away I felt two pops and knew something was wrong but my instinct was to just get off the field.”

Although he’s in a brace and needs crutches to get around, Turner has taken on a lead role for the Aztecs, who are back in town some nine weeks and six wins later to play in the Hawaii Bowl against Cincinnati on Christmas Eve.

Turner was one of two player representatives chosen to speak for the team at Monday’s press conference — a first for him — and as the only non-freshman of the three Hawaii kids on the roster, was the only one allowed to speak after Tuesday’s practice.

SDSU has added at least one player from Hawaii in each of the past three seasons. Following Turner from Mililani was Kapolei’s Pesi Savea in 2014, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman, and Punahou’s Rodney Lakalaka, a 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker.

Savea has yet to play for the Aztecs after tearing his ACL over the summer. Lakalaka is already listed in the two-deeps as a true freshman, and all three could eventually play significant roles for the Aztecs in the future.

For now, though, Turner says they are content to allow the upperclassmen, who helped SDSU run the table in the Mountain West Conference, try to finish off a banner season.

“Our time will come,” Turner said. “Unfortunately for me and Pesi, there’s (been) injuries and Ronley is just a freshman who is getting some time … but this is for the seniors. This could be their last game ever and they’ve earned it and this is their ship and we’re here to support them.”

Lakalaka has played in 10 games on special teams and has gradually seen more playing time at linebacker just six months removed from high school graduation.

He got a quick taste of life at the Division I level during the summer when he tried to tackle running back Donnel Pumphrey, the reigning Mountain West Conference player of the year, during a scrimmage.

“I juked him one time in his first summer camp and we didn’t really know each other at the time,” Pumphrey said. “He can ball though and he’s getting some playing time and unfortunately (Savea) has been hurt and Dakota, he came in my class, and he’s a tough guy. The dude tore his ACL and was able to walk off the field without saying anything. That’s crazy.”

Pumphrey will play the feature role for the Aztecs on Thursday, but all three Hawaii kids are primed to take on leading roles soon, provided they can stay healthy.

“I feel like next year is the time I can make up for this year and make up for the time I missed,” Turner said. “We all have at least a couple of more years to show what we got. (Savea and Lakalaka) have a great work ethic through playing football out here (in Hawaii) and have brought it to San Diego and we’re looking forward to playing.

“Our time will come.”