University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Jesus Ayala, UNC Athletics
From Flag Football to the Big Sky: Cadence Turner's Long Route to Cornerback
10/20/2026 1:44:00 PM | Football
GREELEY, Colo. – Cadence Turner is 19 years old and has been playing tackle football for five seasons. That number is the whole story.
Turner started playing at six, but it was flag football, and it stayed flag football all the way through middle school and into high school. His mother was the reason.
"I always wanted to play football, but my mom was a little bit hesitant with all the injuries and stuff, so I started off playing flag football," Turner said. "My dad, he just really pushed me to go play and just go out there, have fun, work hard. That's kind of how I started."
He played flag up until high school, which means his freshman year, at 14, was his first season in pads.
The Adjustment Nobody Sees
The technique was not the hard part. Turner said that came in a few games, with high school coaches who had played at a high level teaching him how to keep his head up and how to tackle.
The hard part was learning to run into people.
"I would say the mentality, because in flag football you don't have to run into people, and so I kind of struggled with that my first year of tackle football, just the mentality of going out and being relentless," Turner said.
He said he found his way there over time, and he credits something his head coach says often.
"Over the years, I've built up the confidence and the courage to really just go and take a swing," Turner said. "That's a thing Coach Lamb likes to say a lot: just take a swing and just leave it all out there. Ever since I figured out, let me just leave it all out there, that really helped me out a lot in being more physical and violent and just relentless."
Receiver First, Corner Later
Turner played both ways in high school but lined up primarily at receiver. He did not move to cornerback until his one semester at El Camino College, and that is where the position finally clicked.
"In high school, I played both ways, but I was primarily more of a receiver," Turner said. "After high school, I went to junior college for one semester, and that's when I only played corner. That's really when I tuned in and honed in on the details and the mechanics, because cornerback is a tough position with all the talent at the receiver position."
The background on offense turned out to be an advantage rather than a detour.
"With all the releases and stems of the routes and all that stuff, it's definitely helped me out a lot," Turner said.
Early Impact
That late start is why a play from this season stands out. Against Northeastern State, Turner intercepted a pass in overtime, his first career pick, and it came in a game the Bears won 23-17 on a Justin Guin touchdown run in the extra period.
For a player who learned the position two years ago, in a defensive scheme that asks its cornerbacks to play man coverage and live on an island, that is the job done exactly as designed.
Turner describes the mental approach that makes it possible.
"Having just a short memory. After a good play, celebrate, but you have to put that behind you. After a bad play, see what you did wrong and put it behind you, because there's always a next play," he said. "Not too high on the highs and not too low on the lows. That really keeps you level-headed and your confidence up, especially in this defense with a lot of man-to-man."
Eight Games In
Through eight games this season, Turner has 24 tackles, 22 of them solo, with one tackle for loss and five pass breakups to go with his interception. He has started six of those eight games.
He is doing it at 19, in his second season of high-level football, at a position he picked up two years ago, in a conference that asks its corners to cover one-on-one with no help.
"I just felt like it took me a few games my freshman year of high school to really dial into the details and the technique," Turner said. "Ever since, I've just been honing in on the small little details."
Five seasons in, and the details are starting to show.
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at UNCBears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Turner started playing at six, but it was flag football, and it stayed flag football all the way through middle school and into high school. His mother was the reason.
"I always wanted to play football, but my mom was a little bit hesitant with all the injuries and stuff, so I started off playing flag football," Turner said. "My dad, he just really pushed me to go play and just go out there, have fun, work hard. That's kind of how I started."
He played flag up until high school, which means his freshman year, at 14, was his first season in pads.
The Adjustment Nobody Sees
The technique was not the hard part. Turner said that came in a few games, with high school coaches who had played at a high level teaching him how to keep his head up and how to tackle.
The hard part was learning to run into people.
"I would say the mentality, because in flag football you don't have to run into people, and so I kind of struggled with that my first year of tackle football, just the mentality of going out and being relentless," Turner said.
He said he found his way there over time, and he credits something his head coach says often.
"Over the years, I've built up the confidence and the courage to really just go and take a swing," Turner said. "That's a thing Coach Lamb likes to say a lot: just take a swing and just leave it all out there. Ever since I figured out, let me just leave it all out there, that really helped me out a lot in being more physical and violent and just relentless."
Receiver First, Corner Later
Turner played both ways in high school but lined up primarily at receiver. He did not move to cornerback until his one semester at El Camino College, and that is where the position finally clicked.
"In high school, I played both ways, but I was primarily more of a receiver," Turner said. "After high school, I went to junior college for one semester, and that's when I only played corner. That's really when I tuned in and honed in on the details and the mechanics, because cornerback is a tough position with all the talent at the receiver position."
The background on offense turned out to be an advantage rather than a detour.
"With all the releases and stems of the routes and all that stuff, it's definitely helped me out a lot," Turner said.
Early Impact
That late start is why a play from this season stands out. Against Northeastern State, Turner intercepted a pass in overtime, his first career pick, and it came in a game the Bears won 23-17 on a Justin Guin touchdown run in the extra period.
For a player who learned the position two years ago, in a defensive scheme that asks its cornerbacks to play man coverage and live on an island, that is the job done exactly as designed.
Turner describes the mental approach that makes it possible.
"Having just a short memory. After a good play, celebrate, but you have to put that behind you. After a bad play, see what you did wrong and put it behind you, because there's always a next play," he said. "Not too high on the highs and not too low on the lows. That really keeps you level-headed and your confidence up, especially in this defense with a lot of man-to-man."
Eight Games In
Through eight games this season, Turner has 24 tackles, 22 of them solo, with one tackle for loss and five pass breakups to go with his interception. He has started six of those eight games.
He is doing it at 19, in his second season of high-level football, at a position he picked up two years ago, in a conference that asks its corners to cover one-on-one with no help.
"I just felt like it took me a few games my freshman year of high school to really dial into the details and the technique," Turner said. "Ever since, I've just been honing in on the small little details."
Five seasons in, and the details are starting to show.
Tickets can be purchased through the UNC ticket office online at UNCBears.com/Tickets, by calling 970-351-4849, or in person at the UNC ticket office during normal business hours.
Quarterback Club
The Quarterback Club plays a vital role in supporting the UNC Football program. By giving to the Quarterback Club, you help enhance the student-athlete experience, providing resources for team development, and ensuring the success of the Bears on and off the field. Your involvement makes a meaningful difference in the future of the program.
FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at UNCBears.com. Follow the football team on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
CB
/ FootballSaturday, October 17
Thursday, October 08
Thursday, October 08
Thursday, October 08
