GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida has once again tapped into the winter transfer portal to strengthen its roster for the upcoming 2024 season, bringing in twelve seasoned college football players to enhance the Gators’ lineup. Each transfer addition is being evaluated for their potential roles within the team. Asa Turner, a veteran defensive back who spent five seasons at Washington, is the latest addition. Turner, originally a highly regarded four-star safety recruit from Carlsbad (Calif.) High in 2019, chose Washington over Notre Dame, among others. His decision was influenced by the presence of current Florida secondary coach Will Harris, who was coaching defensive backs at Washington during Turner’s recruitment.
Turner quickly made an impact on the field, earning significant playing time as a freshman and securing a spot in the starting lineup by his redshirt freshman year. Despite some rotational duties in 2021, Turner reclaimed his starting position by the end of the season and solidified himself as a key player heading into 2022, where he had a standout season before being sidelined by injuries in 2023. Despite his setbacks, Turner contributed to Washington’s journey to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Following the departure of Washington’s head coach and with ties to coach Harris, Turner made the decision to transfer to Florida. Described by Florida head coach Billy Napier as a productive and vocal leader, Turner embodies the qualities Florida values in transfer acquisitions, emphasizing character and leadership alongside on-field performance.
Turner’s arrival adds depth to Florida’s secondary, where he’ll compete for playing time alongside other transfer acquisitions and returning players. Despite the departure of some key players, Florida’s safety position remains competitive, with returning standouts like Jordan Castell and emerging talents like Bryce Thornton and Sharif Denson vying for roles. Florida’s coaching staff anticipates deploying a rotation strategy across all defensive positions for the upcoming season.
