Getting To Know David Turner
December 29, 2023 | Football, Joel Coleman
New Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby has collectively hired one of the top coaching staffs in all of college football.
In an effort to get to know Lebby's assistant coaches a little better, they each sat down with HailState.com staff writers Joel Coleman and Logan Lowery for a series of interviews that will be released over the coming days.
The interview series continues with defensive line coach David Turner.
Q: Coach Turner, this place has meant a lot to you over the years. What'd it mean to you that Coach Lebby gave you the opportunity to stay in Maroon and White?
Turner: "Obviously, I was happy. My family was happy. This place is special. I came back and didn't think I'd finished the job that I was asked to do and try to get State back up on top. So, I was thrilled to get this opportunity with Coach Lebby.
"Guys I know that've worked with him have had nothing but great things to say about him, and I was excited to have the opportunity to stay and, more importantly, to work with him."
Q: Now that you've had the chance to be around Coach Lebby some, what are your impressions of him?
Turner: "He's a genuine guy. I think what you see is what you get. Obviously, he's a really good fit for what we need right now, and I'm excited."
Q: You'd mentioned you knew several others that'd worked with Coach Lebby through the years. What exactly did they share with you?
Turner: "All of them said the same things and it was a recurring theme. He's a great guy and what you see is what you get. If you have an opportunity to work for him, you'll enjoy it. And so far, it's been great and I'm excited – really excited."
Q: From what you know of defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler's defense, what does that look like from your perspective on the defensive line?
Turner: "I'd assume it'd be a lot like what you see Alabama do. I've been in this defense before…So, I kind of know what's expected. Obviously, it's historically been a really solid defense. You've got to get the pieces to the puzzle and that's what we've been trying to do with our recruiting class is fill some holes. But I'm excited for what it can be, and hopefully we'll get this thing up and playing very good defense, which has been the trademark of Mississippi State."
Q: You've had such a track record over your career of putting guys in the NFL and even ones that might not have made it to the NFL but had outstanding collegiate careers. So what exactly is it that you value in defensive linemen and prioritize in your room?
Turner: "That's a good question. First of all, you've got to be tough. Nobody grows up wanting to be a defensive lineman. So, you've got to be tough. You've got to have athletic ability. You've got to enjoy hitting on somebody every play of the game. I tell guys all the time, we're the only position on the field that gets hit every play. So, you've got to be tough mentally as well as physically.
"Obviously the tools – the length, the athletic ability, big, strong, fast – all of those things come into effect. So it's just a combination of those things and, obviously, work ethic. I tell the guys, if you're scared of hard work, this isn't going to be the place for you. I'm going to push you. I'm going to drive you. But at the same time, at the end of the day, you know I'm going to love you.
"Those are the things that are important. And I think those are the things that are the trademarks I've had here with defensive linemen as we've carried on our tradition."
Q: These defensive linemen of yours that you'll have returning from last year, what are your impressions of what you have coming back?
Turner: "It's a good group. We've got a little bit of a gap in terms of class. We've got a couple of juniors, no sophomores and the rest are freshmen. That's the gap we've been trying to fill in the portal and with transfers right now.
"But it's a great group. I'm excited. I've got a great room. The guys, I think they understand me now and understand the expectation. Hopefully we can continue to build on that this offseason."
Q: We mentioned earlier the guys you've coached here that have made it to the NFL. How big has that been for you to have so many that have worn a Mississippi State jersey make it to playing on Sundays as you go out recruiting?
Turner: I think it's important to the kids. The guys, the freshmen, that we're trying to recruit in here and the junior college guys as well as the portal guys, we've got some name recognition. Chris Jones. Denico Autry. Preston Smith. Fletcher Cox. All those guys.
"For people who watch NFL football and see defensive linemen excelling at that level, and a lot of those guys are from Mississippi State, honestly it opens some eyes, and I think it gets us in some doors with some kids that otherwise we might not could get in."
Q: So Coach Turner, how did you actually get into coaching years ago?
Turner: That's a very good question and probably one you won't believe the story, but it is true. When I graduated college, my idea was that I didn't want to wear a coat and tie to work every day. I was actually in sporting goods. I was working at the Finish Line and working six days a week and putting in 70 to 75 hours a week. And it just so happened on one of my days off, one of my coaches from Davidson called me and said, 'Hey, would you be interested in coming back to coach?'
"It was on a Friday. I'll never forget. I said, 'Well, when do you want me there?' He said, 'Can you be here Monday?' I said, 'Yes.' That was kind of the fast track of me getting into coaching. Not really having an idea that's what I wanted to do. I knew I missed the game. Once I got into it, I said, 'This is it.' It was a Godsend for me."
Q: What made you realize for sure it was what you wanted to spend your life doing?
Turner: "When you get to the point you can't play, you can stay connected and help guys develop and see guys come in as freshmen and mature into seniors and can be a small part of that and helping those guys on and off the field.
"For me, I didn't know. But that filled a void and I said, I can do something I love…It's like I never have to go to work. It's a great feeling to come in and as you get older, I think some of your goals change in terms of what you're trying to accomplish and help kids become better men, better adults and better football players."
Q: Last thing, as a defensive-minded coach, what's your impressions of how explosive Coach Lebby's offense can be?
Turner: Obviously it presents some problems in terms of tempo, stretching you down the field, the run game. They make [opponents] play from sideline to sideline and make you play from end zone to end zone. So, as a defensive coach, you have to have a good plan. Then when [the offense gets] some weapons in there and individuals who are different playmakers, then you have to try to figure out a way to neutralize them. So, it creates a lot of problems."