** News Channel Nebraska is televising Friday's Kearney High at Millard South football game **

 

 

KEARNEY, Neb. — One of the top high school linemen in the state is heading west to play Division l football.

Turner Bertrand of Kearney High committed last week to play at Washington State, which will play in the new-look Pac-12 next season. 

Bertrand is a 6-foot-7, 290-pound offensive lineman. He was looking primarily at Division ll and FCS schools before the Cougars’ recruiting coordinator reached out and asked for his phone number.

“Then a week later, I was in class and this guy calls me and he’s talking about how I’m going to go on an official visit and how this recruiting process is going to move really fast for me. It was just crazy, I did not expect it at all.”

In an interview on the “Doug & Daddy Show” on ESPN Tri-Cities, Bertrand said Washington State was most excited about his size, aggressiveness and passion for the game. It’s all a rapid ascension for an athlete who didn’t play football until eighth grade.

“Once I (started playing), I honestly just fell in love with it and fell in love with the grind.”

Washington State is 8-1 and ranked #18 in the College Football Playoff poll.

Kearney High is 10-1 and will play Friday in the Class A state semifinals at Millard South. Bertrand is the second Bearcat to commit to play Div. l football after linebacker Sawyer Schilke pledged to Kansas State.