Player Bio
The second-team All-Virginia pick as a senior at Centreville High School redshirted as a walk-on at Richmond in 2017 and then played in all 11 games as a reserve the following year (14 tackles, 2.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks). Turner earned starts in all 12 games in 2019, garnering third-team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) accolades by leading the team with 14.5 tackles for loss (71 total tackles, seven sacks). He was named a second-team FCS All-American by The Associated Press after starting all four of the team’s contests in the spring 2021 season (19 tackles, tied for team high with six tackles for loss including 3.5 sacks). Turner was a first-team All-CAA selection in 2021 after posting 54 tackles, 10.5 for loss with four sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 starts. He transferred to Wake Forest for his final year and played well, garnering third-team All-ACC honors despite not starting any of his 13 appearances (38 tackles, 10 for loss with two sacks, two pass breakups, team-high three forced fumbles). — by Chad Reuter
Analysis
By Lance Zierlein – NFL Analyst
Draft Projection, Rounds 5-6
Overview
Turner will be an interesting litmus test for how much teams value tape and production versus traits and athleticism. He’s extremely powerful, with the ability to jolt opponents with heavy hands, and he’s infrequently beaten and sustained by single blockers. He lacks ideal mass and length, has trouble holding his ground against double teams and might find it tougher to disengage from NFL blockers, due to his lack of length. However, motor, determination, toughness and strength fuel Turner’s inevitable forward progress as both a run defender and pass-rush irritant, despite his lack of NFL measurables. He should become a talented rotational defender with a chance to do more.
Strengths
- Exceptional pound-for-pound strength with jolting hand pop.
- Punch strength and club move knocks blockers off-balance.
- Posted 43.5 tackles for loss during career at Richmond and Wake Forest.
- Feet are always moving, and he never stops coming forward.
- Ankle flexion bolsters balance and allows him to work around blocks.
- Consistently finds ways to recover from blocks and make it to the play.
- Created pocket pressure despite frequently rushing from zero-technique.
- Rarely loses sight of ball-carriers or quarterbacks.
Weaknesses
- Lacks the weight, mass and length typical of the position.
- Pure size and power can uproot and remove him on down blocks.
- Tight-strider with limited juice off the snap and into the neutral zone.
- Below-average lateral slide ability to threaten the edge.
- Lack of length forces him to take longer trips into the pocket at times.
Sources Tell Us
“I’m with you — he’s a really good football player. You just worry a little bit about the measurables because guys are a lot stronger in the pros so you can’t just win with power here.” — Area scout for AFC team