Turner: Confidence is Key

Clemson Tigers junior safety Nolan Turner may have come from a small town outside Birmingham, Ala., to an even smaller town in Upstate South Carolina, but according to coaches, he has the innate skills and football “pedigree” to help his team return to the national title spotlight.

CLEMSON — Clemson Tigers junior safety Nolan Turner may have come from a small town outside Birmingham, Ala., to an even smaller town in Upstate South Carolina, but according to coaches, he has the innate skills and football “pedigree” to help his team return to the national title spotlight.

Turner, who has recorded 58 tackles in two years of active competition with the team, has thrust himself into the record books in his fourth year with the Tigers—as he tied the team lead with nine tackles and added a pass broken up vs. Georgia Tech, posted four tackles (one for loss), two pass breakups and a forced fumble vs. No. 12 Texas A&M, added three tackles and a pass breakup at Syracuse, posted two tackles vs. Charlotte, recorded six tackles (one for loss) and contributed to the game-winning stop on a two-point conversion attempt at North Carolina.

For Turner the key to his play this season is a direct result in increased confidence.

"The more you play, the more confidence you build and just the better you get at something.," Turner said. "The more reps you get at something the better you get at it, the more practice, the preparation and everything. Just being out there more you really reap the reward for all of the hard work. So, we come out here, we practice and iron sharpens iron. We got one of the best offenses, the best offense in the country and going against those guys makes game day easy."

“Just a lot of work — day after day, just continuing to grind and not letting outside forces or other things bring you down," Turner added. "Just continuing to work in the weight room, especially film work with Coach V, learning the defense and just getting the reps at practice and stuff. Year after year, you start getting more confidence, getting more comfortable out there and slowly progressing.”

While many people may be wondering who this kid from Alabama is, his position coach, Mickey Conn, believes that the Tigers have a player in Turner.

He is a tremendous athlete,” Conn said about Nolan. “I mean, unbelievable athlete. You're talking about a 6-foot-2, 195-pound kid that can run, change direction. I think his hips, his ability to be able to swivel his hips and change direction. His vision is unbelievable, and he has a great understanding of the defense.”

Conn said players like Turner often get a chance to shine and can gain valuable playing time because of the system head coach Dabo Swinney has put in place.

“Get them in the game, even if it's one play in a game or three plays in a game,” Conn said. “That's going to make a world of difference in these guys. So we were able to do that with Nolan and then started him in our dime package and our nickel stuff, and he just got better, and better and better.”

For Turner, the journey from where he began four years ago to where he is today is a special one. And one that he is cherishing every step of the way.

“It’s cool to look back and see how far I’ve come since I got here, and I still have another year to go. It’s been a cool journey," Turner said. “It’s crazy. This is going on year four for me now. I’ve been here a while and come a long way from starting off redshirt freshman year, playing a little special teams, kind of getting my feet wet a little bit, playing and just getting out there. 

"And then the next year, playing a little bit on defense, getting to contribute a little bit, and now getting to be out there and playing starter reps some games and just getting to be a big contributor to the defense. It’s really fun to get out there and actually play and just be a big part of the defense.”