St. Thomas Aquinas QB Zion Turner Announces UConn Commitment
The University of Connecticut football team has added some championship panache to its expanding 2022 recruitment class.
Quarterback Zion Turner of St. Thomas Aquinas High School (FL) announced his commitment to UConn on Wednesday, choosing the Huskies on an offer list that included Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Pittsburgh, and Texas A&M. Turner announced his decision through a tweet depicting his altered image clad in Connecticut gear, along with the message “COMMITTED” next to a wolf emoji meant to evoke the Huskies’ modern emblem.
Known for its numerous athletic accomplishments since its founding in 1936, St. Thomas Aquinas has produced elite gridiron talents, including Joey and Nick Bosa, Michael Irvin, and James White. Turner made a special brand of history under center for the Raiders, becoming the first quarterback in program history to win three state titles. He was responsible for 90 touchdowns (59 passing) over three varsity seasons, never throwing more than seven interceptions in that span.
Turner previously announced that he visited Connecticut on Dec. 8 and, according to a report from Andrew Ivins of 247Sports, was attracted to the Huskies program because of new head coach Jim Mora’s prior passing endeavors with Brett Hundley at UCLA. Hundley still stands as the Bruins’ all-time leader in touchdown passes with 75 and ranks second in yardage at 9,966. The Bruins finished 10th in the final Associated Press poll after Hundley’s final season in 2014 (their best such posting since 1998) and the thrower was later chosen in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers.
"He knows a lot of stuff that most college coaches don't. (He) and my parents had some great conversations,” Turner said of Mora in Ivins’ report. “He's a real genuine coach and I look forward to making history with him at UConn."
Turner is set to join a quarterback room that retains sophomores Steven Krajewski and Jacob Drena, as well as freshman Tyler Phommachanh. Though opening day starter Jack Zergiotis transferred to FCS Merrimack, the Huskies also welcome in transfers Cade Millen and Ta’Quan Roberson, who respectively arrive from Northern Arizona and Penn State.
The Huskies open their 2022 season on Aug. 27 on the road against Utah State.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
