Brandon Turnage is ready for the challenge.

The 4-star prospect out of Oxford, Miss., will move to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Monday, May 27, with the rest of Alabama’s 2019 signing class. Reflecting on his last five months since signing, he ultimately chose to do so with the Crimson Tide because he wanted to better himself every day.

“It was like I knew that was where I was going to have to go and work the hardest,” Turnage told BamaOnLine in an exclusive interview. “Being able to go against the best competition each and every day at practice other than once every week. I just thought that would play a major role in my future goals.”

Alabama can thank head trainer Jeff Allen and his staff a little bit for this commitment, too.

Turnage suffered a foot injury that held him out for the entirety of his junior year at Lafayette (Miss.) High School. Outside of his desire to compete against the best day in and day out and the relationship he built with the Tide’s coaches and players, Turnage was impressed by the medical care Alabama’s players received on the heels of injuries, especially foot injuries like he sustained.

“Alabama has had several players -- way more than other schools -- that had the same injury as I did, and they have excelled after their surgery in their training from it and rehab,” Turnage said. “So, I just felt like that’s the place that I should be after my injury because I know that they can get me back to the level -- or above the level -- that I was already on.”

Turnage was the No. 8 player in the state of Mississippi, No. 11 cornerback and No 102 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. But he expects to play safety or Star -- or both -- in his first season with the Crimson Tide this fall.

Alabama signee Brandon Turnage

He is approaching his freshman year “very humbly” and “just knowing my place and learning from the people that’s already been there and just playing my role.” A couple of those players are safety Xavier McKinney and Star Shyheim Carter, who are returning Alabama starters.

“Just standing behind them, watching how they do things,” said Turnage of how he envisions learning from McKinney and Carter. “Looking at how they carry themselves and just modeling myself after them.”

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back has been working out and running consistently in order to train his body for his first summer with strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran. That has been his focus the last several months. When he arrives on campus last this month -- and shares a room with Trey Sanders and King Mwikuta -- his priorities will switch to the mental side of the game.

“Getting the playbook down pat so I know where I need to be on the field,” Turnage said. “Just knowing the fundamentals, getting to know more fundamentals of the game.”

The first player from his school to be selected to play in the Under Armour All-American Game, Turnage is “just ready to get on the field and work in the classroom.” But he also knows a lot of work lies in front of him. That’s why his goals for his first season in a crimson uniform reflect that.

“Just trying to get better every week,” Turnage said. “Set goals to better myself each and every so if I feel like I’m not doing well in this spot, improve in that spot and just keep moving on.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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