RB Kenny Turner is ready to put the past behind him while focusing on the future
At the age of 16, Kenny Turner’s life changed when he was picked up for shooting and injuring two men outside of a Florida gas station on July 27, 2002. The teenager, who brandished a 9mm handgun and opened fire on Yvon Bernard and Aruni Andre, was charged as an adult with two counts of attempted murder. Turner reached an agreement with the State and plead guilty to one count of aggravated battery and was sentenced to 5 years in the state penitentiary.
Turner was a once promising high school football star who dreamed of playing in the big leagues with his best friends and now NFLers Chris Johnson and Mike Sims-Walker. However, his troubles with the law almost prevented his dreams from coming true that fateful night. While incarcerated, Turner stayed positive and focused on his goals. Not only did he earn his GED and became a licensed electrician and plumber, he transformed his body into a football machine.
On June 1, 2007, Turner was released from Florida’s Mayo Correctional Institution as a changed man. Rather than resorting to a life of crime, he pursued his dreams of playing college football. He enrolled at Fullerton College and played JUCO ball for the Hornets in 2009 where he amassed over 1500 yards on the ground. The 5’10”, 195 lbs speedster was clocked running a 4.37 40-yard-dash which opened the eyes of a lot of D-1 coaches. Unfortunately, many big time programs overlooked the JUCO transfer because of his troubled past.
However, Aggies coach DeWayne Walker saw a kid who deserved a second chance at life and afforded him the opportunity to enroll at NMSU. Upon receiving the offer, Turner reached out to Johnson and Sims-Walker, who have been by his side since their high school days, to help transition him to a D-1 back.
Thanks to the New Mexico State Aggies, the 24 year-old will finally get his shot at playing D-1 ball on his way to what most experts say, including his best friends, is a stepping stone to the NFL. Turner is certainly an example of a kid who put himself in a very bad situation, but was able to overcome significant odds despite a mountain of adversity. When the Aggies open the season September 11, 2010 to face San Diego State, it will the beginning of a new life for RB Kenny Turner.
