KFBCA Top 11: Turner Corcoran

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams last weekend, including their Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing detailed capsules for each of Top 11 selections over the next several days, starting with Lawrence Free State offensive lineman, and Nebraska commit, Turner Corcoran.

Turner Corcoran, OL, 6-6, 280, Lawrence Free State

Rated as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kansas, Lawrence Free State offensive tackle Turner Corcoran is headed to Nebraska next year. 

Not only does 247Sports have him ranked as the top prospect in the state, he is also the No. 7 ranked offensive linemen for the Class of 2020 and a top-50 prospect in the entire country. 

Corcoran, a three-year starter, was the leader of an offensive line that helped pave the way for 38 Firebird rushing touchdowns this past season. Free State finished 8-2 and scored over 40 points five times this season.

Corcoran chose Nebraska over nearly 20 Power 5 schools that offered him and is currently Nebraska’s highest-rated prospect in the Class of 2020, according to 247Sports. 

Lawrence Free State Head Coach Kevin Stewart on Corcoran: “Dominant offensive linemen, has the size, strength, speed and flexibility to be a great college football player. Was a vocal leader and helped set all of our blocking schemes and fronts."

Check out this interview with Corcoran and Derby standout and fellow Nebraska commit Alex Conn from this year's cover shoot:

And here's our story from this year's "Big Men On Campus" features in Kansas Pregame's Fall Football Preview by Conor Nicholl:

Lawrence Free State senior left tackle Turner Corcoran is listed at 6-foot-6, 270 pounds.

Molded by three people in distinctly different areas of his life, Corcoran has long been considered Kansas’ top overall prospect for the Class of 2020. Nationally, he was ranked 33rd overall and third at his position by 247 (at the time this story was released).

With the exception of two games he missed last year with a knee injury, Corcoran has started every game since the beginning of his sophomore year. He has earned a spot in the Adidas All-American game, is an excellent run blocker with a massive wingspan and received offers from every major FBS program but Alabama.

“They like my tenacity and my nastiness on run blocking, and then they like my arm length and stuff like that, so that’s what really sets me apart from the other guys in the area, and then other guys from around the country,” Corcoran said of college coaches. “That’s what I like to be is a nasty run blocker, and kind of a good, long pass defender.”

On March 14, 2018, Kansas State offered, and Nebraska followed on May 1 last year. Among others, Michigan, Ohio State, Clemson, Wisconsin and Oklahoma all offered. In mid-April, on the Nebraska spring game weekend, Corcoran committed to the Cornhuskers in front of a large group of coaches and personnel, including coach Scott Frost.

As of July 12, Nebraska had eight 2020 commitments; only two are four-star pickups, Corcoran and wide receiver Xavier Betts. Corcoran plans to graduate high school in December and head to Lincoln.

“Nebraska is just full of a bunch of genuine people,” Corcoran said. “The whole coaching staff is really, really genuine. They are going to tell you like it is, how you will play, just how much they are interested in you, and you’ve just got to be the same amount of genuine.”

Corcoran is a leader at Free State and has encouraged peers to consider Nebraska. Derby offensive lineman Alex Conn committed to Nebraska as well.

Corcoran’s looks up to older sister Paige, his social studies teacher Katy Hayden, and Bob Lisher, who retired after last season following 22 years leading Free State.

Paige played volleyball at Johnson County Community College and Pittsburg State and finished her career last fall. She was a spot starter for the Gorillas.

Paige is a major supporter of her brother; her Twitter feed has long been updated with Turner’s offers and visits. In the spring, Paige went with Turner on a visit to Oklahoma. When he committed to Nebraska, Paige tweeted: “I am SO proud of you and your decision. So glad you’ve found a new home.”

Paige is currently back in Lawrence, works two jobs and is getting her master’s from KU.

“She has got a better heart for her passion with volleyball,” Turner said. “She stuck with it. She wasn’t always getting the best playing time, but that didn’t matter for her as long as she was out there helping her teammates, she was a great competitor. She just wanted to win. That’s what I really look for in her, and she has just got that killer instinct.”

Hayden has taught at Free State several years and serves as the Student Council’s assistant sponsor. She teaches modern and ancient world history and had Turner in class as a sophomore.

“She really pushed me to be the person that I am today,” Turner said, “...she’s really a day shifter, someone that can help motivate you to do something, no matter what it is..., an awesome lady.”

Lisher coached for 37 years in Kansas and served as the only coach in Free State history. Corcoran said Lisher, who has coached multiple Power 5 signings, “helped out quite a bit” in the recruitment process.