Commitment: MV Receiver Dane Turner is Headed to UC Davis

For Monte Vista High junior Dane Turner, it was never a question of where he wanted to play college football.

He grew up idolizing his older brother, Kale, who played wide receiver at U.C. Davis after a standout career for the Mustangs, and always wanted to follow in his footsteps.

"I used to go out with my other brother and play catch out on the field after (Kale's) games at Davis," he said.

He'll be back on that field again soon enough, this time in pads.

Turner received a scholarship offer from Davis coach Bob Biggs on April 24 and nearly committed on the spot. He took two weeks to think about the offer, then informed Biggs he'd gladly be an Aggie.

"(Biggs) and my dad both told me to think about it when I first got the offer," Turner said. "But as soon as I got it, I knew I was going to commit. He joked with me that they started recruiting me when I was 12."

The 6-foot-1-inch receiver fielded interest from BYU, Air Force, Wyoming and Oregon State, but never saw himself playing anywhere but Davis.

Turner was a second-team all East Bay Athletic League selection after catching 49 passes for 692 yards and 12 touchdowns this year for a Monte Vista team that advanced to the North Coast Section Division I semifinals.

"He's a big, versatile receiver who can do a lot of things," Monte Vista coach Craig Bergman said. "Davis is such a great fit for him, he'll do well there."

He'll join former Monte Vista receiver Tom Hemmingsen at Davis when he arrives for the 2011 season. Hemmingsen redshirted this past fall and has four years of eligibility remaining.

Turner will be the fourth Monte Vista receiver to continue his career at Davis, joining his brother (Monte Vista Class of 2003), Hemmingsen ('09) and Conor Kirkpatrick ('05).

"(Davis) likes to recruit guys who run good routes and all of those guys do that," Bergman said.

With college figured out, Turner is ready to focus on his senior year at Monte Vista.

"We're out there running routes and catching passes almost every day," he said. "We want to go undefeated like the team in '02 (Kale's senior year)."

Monte Vista has to replace Stanford-bound quarterback Brett Nottingham and Cal-bound linebacker Dave Wilkerson, but figures to be strong at receiver with Turner and Bryce McGovern, who has an offer from Washington State.

Turner's commitment is non-binding. He cannot officially sign a letter of intent until Feb. 2, 2011.

To see highlights from Turner's junior year visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pnv6lsyuyY.