Since Zion Turner first picked up a football in his home state of Florida, he's been ready to compete against anyone who stood in his way.

"I always played quarterback all of my life, so I was always motivated to be the best, so my team could be the best," Turner said.

Playing at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, one of the premier high school football programs in the country, Turner quickly established that he was a talented quarterback, outduelling more experienced upperclassmen to win the starting QB role as a freshman.

Accomplishments like that helped Turner pick up quality lessons that he's carried along throughout his football career thus far.

"St. Thomas was definitely a place that benefited me in my process and my development," Turner said. "Coming from there and just knowing the things that they taught me and picking up on the habits that they instilled in me, it's just great transitioning from high school to here."

The lessons that Turner learned at Aquinas directly translate to the football field, where the young quarterback would showcase what he could bring to a college football program. Finishing his high school career with a 37-2 record, the current UConn freshman has displayed a variety of speed, arm accuracy, and the high football IQ that attracted numerous college programs.

What was the quarterback's greatest skill that triumphed over his wealth of athletic attributes? Being poised and calm under pressure, Turner said, has helped him immensely in his transition to the college level.

As Turner tore up high school competition, one school thousands of miles away began to notice the potential of the high school quarterback. Coach Jim Mora, known for coaching NFL talent throughout his career in football, could see the immense amount of talent that Turner has carried with him. Quickly, the Florida native became a priority target for Mora for the transitioning program in Storrs. When the UConn coach met with Turner for the first time, the freshman was sold.

Now at UConn and deep into a competitive fall football camp, Turner is drawn to the test of playing at the Division I level, a challenge that's difficult for any football athlete. But even though he's far away from home, the true freshman feels right at home in Storrs, especially with the help of his teammates and coaches.

"It's a lot of guys that are just going to smile," Turner said. "It's just a fun time being around everyone. The camaraderie is great. We're all just bonding."