They’re heading to different teams and different conferences, but American Heritage’s Alec Sinkfield and Josh Turner have one thing in common that they will need to get used to: colder temperatures.
Sinkfield signed to play for West Virginia, and Turner signed for Iowa at American Heritage’s National Signing Day ceremony in Delray Beach on Wednesday, and they’re hoping jackets are part of the deal.
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Football players Alec Sinkfield (left) and Josh Turner (right) share a laugh during National Signing Day at American Heritage high school, Wednesday, February 1, 2017. Sinkfield chose to attend West Virginia and Turner chose to attend Iowa. (Damon Higgins / The Palm Beach Post)
“It was cold when I was up there this weekend,” Turner said. “It’ll be an adjustment, but it’s also a good thing. Experience some other things, some other climates.”
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Sinkfield had some of the same thoughts.
“It’s cold,” Sinkfield said, laughing. “Coming from Florida, you don’t get that low. It doesn’t get that cold. I think that’ll be the biggest problem. I don’t think I’ll have any problem competing, going up there and working out. It’ll just be the cold weather.”
Sinkfield, who is No. 15 on the Post’s Big Board, played safety and running back for the Stallions, but he plans on sticking to the offensive side of the ball for the Mountaineers. He said the offensive game plan was a big reason he committed to West Virginia.
“I don’t want to limit myself,” he said. “But hopefully I’ll do more than one thing.”
Turner, who is No. 17 on the Post’s Big Board, chose the Hawkeyes over Boston College, Central Florida and South Florida, among others. He said he liked that Iowa’s coaching staff has been stable — head coach Kirk Ferentz’s contract is through 2026.
“He has like another 10-year contract he just signed, he’s been there for 19 years consecutively, and altogether 27 years,” Turner said. “By the time he’s done, he will have been there close to 40 years. I know he’s not going anywhere and that’s important.”
