This Gulf Breeze linebacker was disruptive defensively to win PNJ Athlete of the Week

Congratulations to the latest PNJ Athlete of the Week winner for the 2022-23 school year: Turner McLaughlin from the Gulf Breeze football team.

The Dolphins junior garnered 58.54 percent of the total vote in the PNJ’s online poll held after the Sept. 12-17 playing period. Each weekly winner is awarded a one-of-a-kind PNJ.com Athlete of the Week shirt provided by BSN SPORTS.

McLaughlin posted a team-best 14 tackles during the Dolphins’ Week 4 win against Milton. He finished with 1.5 sacks, including a strip sack that was recovered in the end zone for a Gulf Breeze touchdown.

Latest AOTW winner: PCA runner Drew Birx wins PNJ's Athlete of the Week

Week 8 Football: Northview cans Jay, Escambia, Navarre, Pace, Catholic capture district games

Learn more about McLaughlin on and off the field below after he spoke with PNJ sports reporter Patrick Bernadeau. Check back later for future winners and to vote in the next PNJ Athlete of the Week poll.

Q and A with Turner McLaughlin

PNJ: I know now isn't the perfect time to talk to you because I know you guys are coming off a loss to Catholic, but what has been the team's mentality since that loss?

McLaughlin: "Our mentality really is 'do your job.' We just didn't do that well during that game, but we're not just going to take that. It's not the end of the world, it's not a district game, and our goal is a district title and a playoff game. We're still 2-0 in district, we're in the driver's seat. Yeah, it did suck because of bragging rights, Battle of the Bay, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not that big of a deal. What is a big deal is Tate this Thursday."

PNJ: Before that, you guys were on a three-game winning streak. What do you think was the key to that success?

McLaughlin: "I go back to doing you job, which is really selflessness. You might be making all the tackles or making not doing this or that, but it's just doing your job, doing what you are supposed to do and that really clicked for us. It's all over the locker room, every day walk in and out, you see it. It just reminds you of what you need to do to win. And that's what we did."

PNJ: In regard to your personal performance, you are one of the leaders in tackles and sack. What's been the key to your success?

McLaughlin: "Really just hard work and doing everything I'm taught to do. Also my (defensive) line, I can't do it what them: Jacob Thorn, Dakota Watson, Shamane Walker, Phillip Dillard. All of them guys, I can't do it without them. That goes back to doing your job as well, because if they are doing their job, they might be getting the spotlight I'm getting, but it would not be the same without them."

PNJ: Speaking of teammates, who is the funniest teammate?

McLaughlin: "Probably Shamane. Shamane Walker, he's always cracking up and making jokes. He's just a funny guy all around."

PNJ: Which teammate has the most swag?

McLaughlin: "Me. Of course, me (laughs)."

PNJ: Which is the best at video games? Who is nicest with the sticks?

McLaughlin: "I would say Battle (Alberson), he's always playing Call of Duty all the time. I'm not really into video games as much as when I was kid, but he's always playing it. So I would probably say him."

PNJ: You wear No. 40. Is there any significance to that number? Why did you choose that jersey number?

McLaughlin: "One of the player comparisons that I like to think of is Luke Kuechly when he played at Boston College. He's a linebacker, he's studied a lot of film like I do. He's really big about the little details."

PNJ: Is Luke your favorite player ever?

McLaughlin: "Yup, it's definitely Luke Kuechly."

PNJ: Is football your favorite sport?

McLaughlin: "Oh yeah."

PNJ: When did you start playing football?

McLaughlin: "I think I started playing football when I was seven years old."

PNJ: What do you think it was about the sport that got you hooked?

McLaughlin: "Probably it was teamwork because obviously you can't win with just one person. Think about it, if one person doesn't do their job, the whole thing crumbles. But if everyone does their job, you get a win. And everyone likes to win."

PNJ: If you had one thing to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?

McLaughlin: "Cheeseburgers."

PNJ: What's on the cheeseburger?

McLaughlin: "Lettuce, mayo, ketchup, pickles. That's it."

PNJ: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

McLaughlin: "Invisibility."

PNJ: What music do you listen to when you are getting ready for a game?

McLaughlin: "I like 'Straight Bars' by Kodak."

PNJ: If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?

McLaughlin: "Probably to the Keys, I haven't been to the Keys yet. I like fishing as well and it would be cool to go down there and catch those fish that aren't around here."

PNJ: If you could play any sport besides football, what would you play?

McLaughlin: "I played baseball until last year. So I'd probably go with baseball."

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (850) 503-3828, on Twitter @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Breeze linebacker Turner McLaughlin wins PNJ's Athlete of the Week