Stephen Holder | IndyStar

Mykal McEldowney, Indianapolis Star

Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar

INDIANAPOLIS – Kemoko Turay recalls vividly the first time he approached his father about playing high school football.

Born and raised in West Africa, Vakaba Turay didn’t say much. Didn’t have to. His words still spoke volumes.

“He didn’t (understand),” Kemoko, now a rookie defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts, said. “He was like, ‘What the? Weren’t you just playing basketball yesterday?’ My coach had to go to his shop.

“He sat him down and said, ‘Mr. Turay, I want your son to play football.’”

Born in Guinea and raised in Liberia, Vakaba couldn’t be blamed for not understanding the intricacies of a sport with which he had no familiarity. He couldn’t tell you a first down from a false start, to be honest. Besides, his son seemed to be doing just fine as a basketball player.

But Kemoko had other ideas. After following through on a commitment to attend a football camp at Rutgers, Kemoko – raw and unformed as he was – garnered a scholarship offer. He had played just one year of freshman football to that point.

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“I had already agreed to go to the camp,” Kemoko said during the Colts’ rookie minicamp. Upon learning the news, Vakaba had a much different reaction.

“I love football!” Kemoko joked, when asked about his father’s ultimate response.

Mykal McEldowney, Indianapolis Star

He undoubtedly loves it even more now. Turay became the 52nd overall pick in last month’s NFL Draft and now the Colts are hoping they can take this still-raw defensive end and turn him into a pass-rushing terror.

There’s some debate about how tall an order that will be. It isn’t difficult to find those who think Turay was drafted too early for a guy with limited statistical production and a history of shoulder injuries. But the Colts are all-in on Turay’s potential, sort of like Rutgers was without having seen him play in an actual game.

Just like General Manager Chris Ballard and the scouting staff observed on film, the Colts this weekend are seeing some of the same traits that lead them to believe Turay can be a defensive presence sooner than later. Turay through two days of the three-day camp has displayed an impressive first step off the line of scrimmage, seemingly making a nice transition to lining up in a three-point stance after playing most in a two-point stance at Rutgers.

“As an offensive coach and a former quarterback, you’d think you have a little bit of an eye for guys who can come off the edge,” coach Frank Reich said. “And that definitely flashed.”

If Turay can be further shaped by defensive line coach Mike Phair and pass-rush consultant Robert Mathis, then Turay’s interesting story has a chance to add a few more chapters.

As it is, though, his tale is already a page-turner. Turay is nothing less than the walking embodiment of the American success story.

His family emigrated from Africa when Turay was a toddler and, in the years that followed, he would have a front-row seat to his parents’ ceaseless work ethic.

“I just observed my dad,” Turay said. “He’s an entrepreneur. He’s a tailor. He’s been sewing for 45 years. And my mom has been braiding hair for so long. So, I just watched them being their own bosses and showing hard work and having different (jobs) come and go and just constantly keep working day in and day out. There was a time I wanted to help my dad sew, and he said, ‘No, I don’t ever want you to sew. Focus on school.’ And two days ago, he told me, ‘I told you so. I told you not to do sewing.’”

His father’s instincts have been confirmed. Turay was capable of big things, and not merely on the football field. He will miss the final day of rookie camp Sunday when he returns home to New Jersey to participate in Rutgers’ graduation ceremony. He earned his degree in December and this was a ceremony he vowed not to miss.

“I’m the first person to graduate in my family,” Turay said. “It’s beautiful.”

During a tender moment a few days ago, Turay’s oldest sister, Fanta, began to cry tears of joy at her brother’s success.

Mykal McEldowney, Indianapolis Star

“It showed what an example I set for my family and for my African community,” he said, “to see that it’s important to graduate and that hard work can pay off. Just put your mind to it.”

The work ethic instilled in Turay clearly stuck. He majored in information technology/informatics at Rutgers, and he’d like to put his degree to use right at Colts headquarters. That’s right: In between his attempts at beefing up the Colts’ pass rush, Turay wants to lend a hand to the team’s… IT department.

“I did a lot of different things like web design, software development, coding,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure out which is a better field. So, that’s what I want to do. My plan is to learn under the IT department around here so I can make that my internship.”

But the side jobs will have to wait. For right now, Turay has quarterbacks to chase and running backs to take down.

He’s a football player now. And his father is just fine with that.

Follow Colts Insider Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.