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The NCAA granted Florida safety Asa Turner an extra year of eligibility, according to Gators head coach Billy Napier on Thursday.
Napier spoke to reporters during Florida's annual pro day and confirmed that Turner will get to play a seventh year of college ball. The former Washington safety got a free year of eligibility in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and red-shirted in 2023 after playing just four regular-season games; however, Turner played in all three postseason games for the Huskies since they do not count against the redshirt total.
Turner suited up a starting safety for Florida in the 2024 opener against Miami but only played 21 snaps before going down with a season-ending injury. He applied for a medical hardship waiver in January and extended his college career.
"He's been granted an extra year of eligibility, and I think his role on our team and his health is a little bit to be determined," Napier said. "But I think, in general, it's a good thing for him. His career has been extended for a year, and then we'll kind of see where we end up. But yeah, I think a guy who has had injury issues throughout his career, not only here but also at Washington, but a great kid, very smart, very dependable. Just kind of needs to work on the durability piece."
Napier's comments are a bit ambiguous as to whether that seventh year of eligibility will be played in Gainesville. Florida returns starters Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton at safety in 2025, with rising redshirt freshmen Josiah Davis and Greg Smith III behind them. The Gators also added two quality safeties in the 2025 recruiting cycle in Lagonza Hayward and Drake Stubbs.
It wouldn't be impossible to find snaps for Turner, but the starting role he held coming into last year might not be there anymore. Adding in that he's an injury-prone player, would it be worth it for Florida to accommodate him further at the expense of developing a younger player? Reading the tea leaves here leads to a clear no, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Turner hit the transfer portal. As a graduate player, he can do so at any time.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football S Asa Turner granted extra year of eligibility
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Napier spoke to reporters during Florida's annual pro day and confirmed that Turner will get to play a seventh year of college ball. The former Washington safety got a free year of eligibility in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and red-shirted in 2023 after playing just four regular-season games; however, Turner played in all three postseason games for the Huskies since they do not count against the redshirt total.
Turner suited up a starting safety for Florida in the 2024 opener against Miami but only played 21 snaps before going down with a season-ending injury. He applied for a medical hardship waiver in January and extended his college career.
"He's been granted an extra year of eligibility, and I think his role on our team and his health is a little bit to be determined," Napier said. "But I think, in general, it's a good thing for him. His career has been extended for a year, and then we'll kind of see where we end up. But yeah, I think a guy who has had injury issues throughout his career, not only here but also at Washington, but a great kid, very smart, very dependable. Just kind of needs to work on the durability piece."
Napier's comments are a bit ambiguous as to whether that seventh year of eligibility will be played in Gainesville. Florida returns starters Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton at safety in 2025, with rising redshirt freshmen Josiah Davis and Greg Smith III behind them. The Gators also added two quality safeties in the 2025 recruiting cycle in Lagonza Hayward and Drake Stubbs.
It wouldn't be impossible to find snaps for Turner, but the starting role he held coming into last year might not be there anymore. Adding in that he's an injury-prone player, would it be worth it for Florida to accommodate him further at the expense of developing a younger player? Reading the tea leaves here leads to a clear no, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Turner hit the transfer portal. As a graduate player, he can do so at any time.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football S Asa Turner granted extra year of eligibility
Continue reading...
