Sam Houston QB Jamal Turner great with his arm, better with his legs

Posted Monday, Nov. 09, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By WILLIAM WILKERSON

Special to the Star-Telegram

It didn’t take long for Arlington Sam Houston quarterback Jamal Turner to get recognized when he traveled to Lincoln, Neb., over the weekend for an unofficial visit to watch the Cornhuskers beat Oklahoma. How long, you ask?

"As soon as I landed in the airport people were coming up and talking to me," said Turner, a junior, who has already received an offer from Nebraska. "There were so many people."

Judging from the season he just compiled for the Texans, it won’t be the last time he’s greeted with open arms upon arrival. Unless, of course, it’s to the city of the opposition.

Turner became the first player in Arlington school district history to throw for 2,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in the same season. The 6-foot-1 definition of dual-threat threw for 2,049 yards (165-of-243 passing, 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions) and led area Class 5A players with 2,009 rushing yards, averaging 9.2 yards per carry.

Turner burst onto the scene last season when he threw for 2,611 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. This season, though, with an added intent on keeping the ball in his hands as often as possible, he far surpassed his 442 yards rushing and nine scores from a year ago.

"I think it puts it at another level from the standpoint that we are a spread team, along with the fact that we were more of a run-pass offense this year," Sam Houston coach Danny Edelman said. "We actually planned on him learning our passing game last year, and this year learning the running part of it. I think it’s more of a credit to him and his ability."

Turner credits his decisions to run track and play basketball a season ago for keeping him in shape throughout the football off-season.

His key receiver, Kenzee Jackson, a Sam Houston senior, was third in the area with 57 receptions for 776 yards and three scores. His younger brother, junior Kameel Jackson, an Oklahoma commit, battled injuries but still presented trouble for defenses in the games he did play.

"If I threw a bad ball they’d go get it and make me look good," Turner said.

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