2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Aaron Turner, OL, Western Oregon University

• Name: Aaron Turner
• Height: 6’7
• Weight: 305
• Position: RT/LS
• College: Western Oregon University
• Twitter: @Aaron_Turner56

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

• I was raised in Troutdale, OR. The community where I grew up in was very open and diverse. I had people around me who cared for me and treated me like family, they looked out for me and kept me out of trouble.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

• Film Study- I believe that studying film is a huge part in preparation leading up to a game, this is where you spend the most time studying your opponents fronts, schemes, strengths/weaknesses, playmakers, etc.

Practice- You practice what you put into it, prepare yourself on what you expect to see on gameday that week and push yourself to become better everyday so you can out perform your opponents.

Strength and conditioning- It’s an opportunity to not only stay in shape, but to push yourself to stay healthy, and keep your body right through the season as well as all game long.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about failing on the people I love because they have done so much for me.

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

• My freshman year of college I weighted 245 as a left tackle and was told I wouldn’t play or start unless I got my weight up, during my redshirt year I put on some good weight and hit the weight room with Coach Metzgar our strength coach weighing in at 265 the following spring. The next fall camp I put on 10 more pounds in the summer at 275 and found my way into the rotation.

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My work ethic and passion for the game.

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

• Markus Jones (Angelo State)

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 

• I would be working in Law Enforcement and hopefully be able to coach, because I love the game so much and want to give back

Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?

·     Room- It’s where I spend the majority of the time when I want peace and quiet. I also believe when you have company over that is the first place you go so I try to make a good first impression.

·     Car- Having a dirty room also means you have a dirty car in my opinion, but I try to clean my car every week inside and out or I’ll get criticized by my parents.

·     Desk- I have a desk in my room that I keep clean, but I usually go to the library so I don’t always have to clean it.

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

• Now this is a tough one but I would want to save everyone I love and care for while I sacrifice myself instead.

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it? 

• I had multiple D1 schools looking at me after my senior year in high school, after the winter I found out that I was not eligible to be a D1 contender due to transcripts not being sent to D1 schools by my advisor. I thought my whole football career was over until I was fortunate enough to be eligible to sign with a school and earned a scholarship.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

• In high school my sophomore year of basketball we had a school assembly, during that assembly for every free throw made we raised $50 to our boosters club, I was one of 3 players on the team to be choosen and I air balled my first free throw.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• After my redshirt year as a freshman I got to play left tacklein the 4^thquarter of a tight game against D1 Sacramento State, with less than 4 minutes left to go in the game our running back followed me down field and I made a huge block on the Rover and he ended up scoring the game winning TD. 

What song best describes your work ethic?

• Trophies by Drake 

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 

• I’m big, quick off the ball, quick feet and physical, my non-physical traits would have to be my football IQ and work ethic.

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

• I would bring back my uncle Dan, I think he would’ve loved to see me play football again and see how much I’ve grown into it.

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 

• I’m not a big dance club kind of guy, but if I could open one and name it, it would be called the boom boom room.

Who is the most underrated player in the NFL? 

• In my opinion former nfl running back Warrick Dunn was underrated, because he had to overcome the death of his mother who was murdered, and dealing with depression. Despite all that he had a successful 12 season career in my opinion. 

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• I’d rather be respected than having the feeling of being “liked”, because being liked come and goes, respect can go a very long way, it lasts longer and it is a reflection to one’s character. 

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

• I would say Ernie Davis, he was an up and coming running back out of Syracuse after being the first African American Heisman Trophy winner and breaking records originally held by Jim Brown. Sadly his life was taken away being diagnosed by Leukemia. I believe if he had a chance at life again he could be just as great or if not the best running back in NFL history.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• Love to win, there no better feeling than winning. Losing is never fun, but you always learn from it.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

• My father, because he has taught me so many life lessons not just about football in general but off the field I’ve always looked up to him as a role model who has taught me right from wrong, and he always helped me through my struggles.