DJ Turner (cornerback)

Last updated

DJ Turner
D. J. Turner (November 26, 2022).jpg
Turner with Michigan in 2022
No. 20 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (2000-11-09) November 9, 2000 (age 24)
Suwanee, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida)
College: Michigan (2019–2022)
NFL draft: 2023  / round: 2 / pick: 60
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2024
Total tackles:79
Sacks:1
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:15
Stats at Pro Football Reference

JuanDrago "DJ" Turner II (born November 9, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan and was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Turner was born on November 9, 2000, in Suwanee, Georgia. [1] He attended North Gwinnett High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for his senior year. [2] He committed to the University of Michigan to play college football. [3] [4]

College career

Turner appeared in eight total games his first two years at Michigan in 2019 and 2020. [5] In 2021, he played in all 14 games and made eight starts. [6] He finished the year with 33 tackles, two interceptions and one touchdown. Turner returned as a starter in 2022, intercepting one pass and returning a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown. [7]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 11+1⁄4 in
(1.81 m)		178 lb
(81 kg)		30+3⁄4 in
(0.78 m)		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.26 s1.47 s2.32 s38.5 in
(0.98 m)		10 ft 11 in
(3.33 m)
All values from the NFL Combine [8] [9]

Turner was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round, 60th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. [10]

2023

In Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, Bengals' starting cornerback Chidobe Awuzie was ruled out with a back injury, leading to Turner getting his first career start. Turner would finish the game with four total tackles and one pass deflection, grading the highest of all the Bengals' cornerbacks in the 34–20 win. [11] [12] He recorded his first sack in the Bengals' Week 10 contest against the Baltimore Ravens, and recovered a fumble the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a 28 yard return. [13] Turner finished his rookie season with 50 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and seven pass deflections. [14]

2024

Despite starting 12 games as a rookie, Turner was named the Bengals' second string cornerback to begin the season, backing up Daxton Hill to begin the 2024 campaign. [15] Hill would go out with a season ending knee injury during the Bengals' Week 5 game against the Baltimore Ravens, thrusting Turner back into the starting role. [16] Turner suffered a broken clavicle in Week 11 and was placed on injured reserve on November 19. [17]

References

  1. ↑ Brugler, Dane. "The Beast: 2023 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic . p. 251. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  2. ↑ Baumgardner, Nick (July 10, 2019). "Michigan football freshman D.J. Turner is a disciplined, fearless coverman". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Three-star Georgia cornerback DJ Turner picks Michigan". The Detroit News. June 25, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ Sang, Orion (June 25, 2018). "Michigan football adds to 2019 class with Georgia CB DJ Turner". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  5. ↑ Zuke, Ryan (October 26, 2021). "DJ Turner emerges in Michigan's secondary". mlive.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Michael (November 26, 2021). "Why Michigan football cornerback DJ Turner doesn't fear Big Ten's best wide receivers". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  7. ↑ Kahn, Andrew (September 7, 2022). "Michigan football player gives play by play of his own touchdown". mlive.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  8. ↑ "DJ Turner II Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout DJ Turner College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hobson, Geoff (April 28, 2023). "Bengals Select Michigan CB DJ Turner II With Second-Round Pick". Bengals.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  11. ↑ Santagata, Mike (October 11, 2023). "Bengals Film Breakdown: Analyzing DJ Turner's First Career Start in Win Over Cardinals". Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Bengals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ Heltman, Russ (October 12, 2023). "DJ Turner II Quickly Acclimating to NFL Action: 'Helps Your Confidence' Guarding Bengals WRs". Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Bengals News, Analysis and More. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Can't-Miss Play: DJ Turner II off to the races for 28-yard fumble return after Warren's miscue". www.bengals.com. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  14. ↑ "DJ Turner 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Bengals Roster Breakdown: Dax Hill may've finally found his calling at cornerback". atozsports.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Bengals lose starting outside CB Hill to torn ACL". ESPN.com. October 7, 2024. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Bengals CB DJ Turner II (broken clavicle) placed on IR". Bengals.com. November 19, 2024.
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