September 12, 2025
South Sumter High Graduate Ja’Kyrian Turner Scores First Touchdown for University of Pitt
By Kyle Coppola
South Sumter High Graduate Ja’Kyrian Turner Scores First Touchdown for University of Pitt
Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner didn’t need much time to make his mark on college football.
The true freshman running back from South Sumter High School in Bushnell, scored his first career touchdown for the University of Pittsburgh this past weekend in the Panthers’ 45-17 win over Central Michigan. Ja’Kyrian finished with 26 rushing yards on six carries, including a short scoring run that capped off the biggest moment yet of his young career.
(It’s not always common to see true freshman get playing time in college but Ja’Kyrian had a very impressive spring and summer at Pitt and has made an immediate impact in 2025.)
For Ja’Kyrian this was a huge moment. Not just for himself but for his family, friends and hometown who continue to root him on at the highest level in College football.
Ja’Kyrian arrived at Pitt this fall as one of Florida’s most versatile high school athletes. At South Sumter, under Coach Ty Lawrence, he rushed for more than 1,500 yards over his final two seasons. As a senior, he averaged 108.7 rushing yards per game, finishing with 978 yards and 10 touchdowns on 134 carries (7.3 yards per carry). He added 111 receiving yards on nine catches and contributed on special teams, averaging 48 yards on kickoff returns.
(Ja’Kyrian Turner signed his commitment letter to Pitt at South Sumter surrounded by friends and family members.)
His junior year was equally explosive, with 533 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on just 50 carries (10.6 average), along with 15 receptions for 203 yards and three scores. His dynamic play earned him national recognition, with On3, 247Sports and ESPN rating him among the nation’s top 100 athletes.
For Ja’Kyrian, who was nicknamed “Boosie” back home in Bushnell, the touchdown was not only a milestone but also validation of the work that carried him from a small Florida town to an ACC program. It’s been great to see this young man continue his upward trajectory. He will continue to get more opportunities this year and in the future as well.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
